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HISTORICAL  RESEARCHES 

ON 

THE  WARS  AND  SPORTS 

OF  THE 

jfctottgoto  anti  Momamt 

IN  WHICH 

ELEPHANTS  and  WILD  BEASTS 

WERE  EMPLOYED  OR  SLAIN. 

AND  THE 

REMARKABLE  LOCAL  AGREEMENT  OF  HISTORY  WITH  THE  REMAINS  OF  SUCH  ANIMALS 

FOUND  IN 

EUROPE  AND  SIBERIA. 

CONTAINING 

Life  of  Genghis  Khan,  his  unparalleled  Conquests. — Life  of  the  Grand  Khan  Kublai :  Life  of  Ta- 
merlane: their  Battles ;  splendid  Courts;  and  Grand  Hunting  Expeditions. — Siberia  described  in 
Summer;  Mongol  Sovereigns ;  Invasions  from  China  and  Bangalla ;  Battles;  Rich  Tombs. — Con- 
quest of  Russia  by  a  Grandson  of  Genghis  Khan. — Fisheries  of  the  Walrus,  called  Mammoth  by 
Siberians  :  Errors  arising  therefrom. — Roman  Wars  and  Sports  with  Elephants  and  wild  beasts. 
— History  of  Roman  Britain,  ending  A.D.  427:  York  the  Head  Quarters  of  the  Roman  Empire 
for  Three  Years. — British  Emperors ;  powerful  Fleet. — Mines;  W ealth;  Amphitheatres. — Conquest 
of  Gaul  and  Spain  by  the  British  Emperor  Maximus. 

WITH  A  MAP  AND  TEN  PLATES. 


BY  JOHNVRANKING, 

RESIDENT  UPWARDS  OF  TWENTY  YEARS  IN  HINDOOSTAN  AND  RUSSIA. 


LONDON: 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR 
AND  SOLD  BY  LONGMAN,  REES,  ORME,  BROWN,  AND  GREEN,  PATERNOSTER-ROW. 
KINGSBURY,  PARBURY,  AND  ALLEM,  LEADENHALL-STREET.  AND 
G.  LAWFORD,  SAVILE-PLACE,  CONDUIT-STREET. 


M.DCCC.XXVI. 


LONDON. 

w.  m'dowall,  PRINTER.  PEMBERTON-RQW,  GOUGH-SQUAR' 


PREFACE. 


In  the  endeavour  to  trace  historical  proofs,  that  the  fossil  bones  of 
elephants  and  wild  beasts,  which  have  been  found  in  Britain,  France, 
Spain,  Germany,  Russia,  Siberia,  and  other  countries,  are  the  remains 
of  those  animals  which  have  been  employed  in  the  wars,  religious 
ceremonies,  and  amphitheatrical  sports,  of  the  Romans  and  the  Mon- 
gols, (or  Moguls) :  the  author  has  been  led  on  by  the  extensive  scenes 
of  conquest,  the  extraordinary  grandeur  of  the  Mogul  Khans,  the 
magnificence  of  their  hunting  expeditions  and  court  parades,  which  so 
far  exceed  anything  ever  witnessed  in  Europe;  to  make  a  quarto 
volume  of  what  he  imagined  might  have  been  comprised  in  a  small 
compass. 

In  the  progress  of  these  researches,  there  was  such  a  conviction  in 
the  writer's  mind  of  his  success  in  the  main  object  of  his  work,  in  con- 
sequence of  some  extraordinary  discoveries  which  he  has  made ;  that 
he  has  been  induced  to  write  an  epitome  of  the  life  of  the  Siberian 
Genghis  Khan,  the  most  famous  conqueror  that  ever  existed;  and 
whose  grandson  Kublai,  on  his  completion  of  the  conquest  of  China, 
governed  and  controlled  an  empire  much  more  extensive  and  populous 


iv  PREFACE. 

than  was  ever  swayed  by  the  Romans,  when  their  greatness  was  at  its 
utmost  height*. 

It  will  be  seen  what  efforts,  during  this  Grand  Khan's  life,  were  made 
to  subdue  Ilindoostan;  but  they  were  repelled  by  the  vigour  of  the 
Afghan  Emperors.  Eastern  Bengal,  or  Bangalla,  was  the  only  part  of 
that  country  which  submitted  to  Kublai.  A  description  of  the  very 
ancient  capital  (now  submerged)  of  this  Bengal,  has,  fortunately,  been 
met  with. 

Siberia,  a  name  which  conveys  to  most  readers  the  idea  but  of  frost 
and  exile,  will  be  found  in  summer,  (which  season  only  is  here  described), 
a  most  magnificent  region  in  many  parts;  the  cradle  of  the  greatest 
conquerors  recorded  in  history;  a  country  unknown  to  Russia  till  the 
sixteenth  century;  of  greater  extent  than  Europe;  and  so  rich  in  zoo- 
logy and  botany,  that  the  discovery  of  America,  says  Pennant,  has 
scarcely  imparted  a  greater  number  of  objects  to  the  naturalist.  The 
reader  will  find  that  country  connected  with  China  and  India,  from 
the  earliest  ages :  and  in  the  thirteenth  century  vast  invading  armies, 
composed  of  Mongols,  Persians,  Chinese,  and  Arabs,  commanded  by 
Timur  Kaan,  governor  of  Yunnan,  Eastern  Bengal,  and  other  elephant 
provinces,  stationed  in  Siberia  for  many  years;  to  contest,  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Irtish  and  higher  in  the  north,  the  possession  of  the  most 
powerful  monarchy  that  has  ever  been  known.  No  notice  of  these  in- 
vasions has  been  met  with  in  any  history  of  Russia  or  Siberia. 

About  a  century  afterwards,  Tamerlane,  who  as  a  conqueror  is 

*  In  the  year  1280  the  family  of  Genghis  Khan  possessed,  in  longitude,  from 
Behring's  Straits  to  the  Don;  and  all  Russia  was  tributary: — In  latitude,  from  the 
south  of  China  to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  (Ilindoostan  and  Arabia  excepted). 


PREFACE.  V 
second  only  to  Genghis  Khan,  will  be  found  in  Siberia  and  Russia  so 
high  in  the  north,  that  the  morning  rays  appeared  in  the  east  before 
the  sun  was  entirely  set,  (the  Mahomedan  doctors  from  this  pheno- 
menon omitted  the  evening  prayers),  with  armies  that  astonish  us  at 
their  numbers  and  discipline;  and  in  opposition  to  monarchs  as  power- 
ful as  himself,  but  never  so  fortunate.  The  splendour  of  the  court,  and 
of  the  "  big  wars  *,  which  seemed  to  make  ambition  virtue,"  of  this 
destroying  prince,  surpass  every  thing  but  the  fictions  of  poetry  and 
romance  ;  and  it  will  be  seen  how  extremely  probable  it  is,  that  he  has, 
in  several  instances,  been  adopted  as  the  prototype  of  the  infernal 
hero  of  that  great  effort  of  the  human  intellect,  the  Paradise  Lost. 

The  vanity  and  folly  of  ambition  were  never  more  forcibly  exempli- 
fied than  in  the  instant  dissipation,  by  Tamerlane's  successor,  of  the 
countless  and  inestimable  gold  and  jewels,  the  plunder  of  Delhi,  Bag- 
dat,  Damascus,  and  Bursa;  and  all  to  indulge  the  capricious  humour 
of  one  of  the  concubines  of  the  Emir  Hadji  Seifeddin,  whom  he  had 
privately  married,  and  whose  fatal  charms  destroyed  an  empire,  which 
was  inferior  to  none  on  the  earth. 

The  history  of  Britain  will  be  found  to  exhibit  that  province,  while 
under  the  power  of  the  Romans,  as  deemed  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  those  conquerors;  and  which  is  evinced  by  the  many  Emperors 
who  visited  and  resided  in  the  island,  some  of  them  with  their  fami- 
lies. The  obstinate  wars  with  the  unsubdued  Caledonians  lasted  to 
the  term  of  the  Roman  domination,  and  attracted  the  whole  Court  of 

*  The  army,  from  the  extremity  of  one  wing  to  that  of  the  other,  extended  be- 
tween three  and  four  leagues.  On  the  approach  to  Damascus  the  elephants,  in  a 
great  rank,  marched  in  front. — See  Ch.  IV. 


vi  PREFACE. 

the  Empire  to  York,  during  the  long  residence  in  Britain  of  the  three 
Emperors,  Severus,  Caracalla,  and  Geta,  the  latter  of  whom  had  the 
command  of  London.  It  was  in  the  city  of  York,  which  was  for  three 
years  the  head  quarters  of  the  Roman  Empire,  that  Severus  celebrated 
a  triumph  for  his  victories  in  Parthia  and  Arabia. 

The  greatness  of  several  of  the  British  Emperors,  their  powerful  ar- 
mies, fleet,  and  their  conquests  on  the  continent,  attest  the  wealth  of 
the  island;  and  how  justly  the  loss  of  its  mines,  its  corn,  and  very  nu- 
merous recruits  for  the  Roman  armies  (on  the  continent),  was  de- 
plored. 

No  other  person  having  given  a  history  of  Britain  with  the  views  of 
the  writer,  a  stronger  light  is  thrown  on  that  part  of  these  researches 
than  has  before  been  collected  in  a  small  compass ;  and  nevertheless 
every  essential  historical  event,  that  is  extant,  is  related. 

That  most  noble  of  the  brutes,  the  elephant,  will  be  found  in  great 
numbers,  climbing  the  Alps  with  Hannibal  and  Asdrubal ;  crossing 
the  mountains  of  Greece ;  and  fighting  with  the  Roman  army  under 
the  command  of  Acilius  and  Cato,  against  Antiochus  at  Thermopylae ; 
marching  with  the  Emperor  Claudius  to  the  conquest  of  Britain;  thir- 
ty-nine slain  in  one  battle  in  Spain;  a  hundred  and  forty  employed  in 
a  battle  with  the  Carthaginians,  at  Palermo;  of  which  a  great  number 
was  killed  by  the  Romans,  and  above  a  hundred  were  captured. 

Thirteen  hundred  elephants  at  one  time,  and  five  hundred  on  ano- 
ther occasion,  were  led  by  the  Emperor  Mamood  against  the  king  of 
Cashgar,  and  supported  the  cold  of  Tartary,  when  men  and  horses  per- 
ished by  its  severity.  The  numbers  possessed  by  the  descendants  of 
Genghis  Khan  would  be  incredible,  if  we  did  not  know  that  all  the 


PREFACE.  Vii 
elephant  provinces  east  of  the  Burrampooter  were  under  their  con- 
trol, and  that  no  monarchs  on  earth  were  ever  so  powerful. 

The  variety  and  immense  numbers  of  wild  beasts  destroyed  in  the 
circus  and  amphitheatre  are  recorded  by  many  historians.  Hippo- 
potami, rhinoceroses,  camelopards,  and  almost  every  known  quadru- 
ped were  employed  in  these  amusements;  sometimes  several  thou- 
sands on  a  single  occasion.  On  one  day,  forty  elephants  were  ex- 
hibited in  these  cruel  but  grand  sports,  with  which  the  Roman 
people  were  indulged  for  many  centuries. 

Such  respectable  authors  as  Pallas  and  others  having  asserted,  that 
all  the  elephants  employed  in  the  armies  of  the  Moguls  would  not  ac- 
count for  the  vast,  number  of  mammoth's  remains  found  in  Siberia,  it 
was  indispensably  requisite  to  give  sufficient  historical  proof  of  the 
contrary.  The  evidence  produced  in  this  volume,  accompanied  with 
the  elucidation  of  the  misunderstandings  and  consequent  exaggerations 
on  this  topic,  arising  from  the  Siberians  calling  the  walrus,  (which 
they  kill  in  immense  numbers),  by  the  name  of  Mammoth,  and  Eu- 
ropeans always  supposing  them  to  be  speaking  of  elephants,  is  deemed, 
by  the  writer,  a  satisfactory  proof  of  the  errors  and  misconceptions 
on  this  subject:  but  sufficient  conviction  regarding  the  numbers  of 
elephants,  could  not  be  conveyed  to  the  reader,  without  present- 
ing him  with  the  causes  for  such  extraordinary  wars  and  scenes 
as  are  here  described;  and  he  was  therefore  necessitated  to  lay 
before  him  those  circumstances  which  have  reached  us  in  various  scat- 
tered authorities,  in  order  to  make  out  a  constructive  evidence  in  those 
cases,  for  which  direct  proof  has  not  been  found.  In  this  pursuit  many 
readers  will  find  descriptions  and  scenes  of  a  nature  entirely  different 
from  what  is  usually  met  with. 


viii  PREFACE. 

The  various  Chapters  consist  of  those  extracts  of  short  passages, 
and  abstracts  of  long  ones,  and  even  of  whole  volumes,  which  contri- 
bute to  prove  the  point  aimed  at.  The  dates  and  circumstances  are 
sometimes  so  distant  or  various  as  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  always 
maintaining  a  connected  narrative  like  a  regular  history,  nor  does  the 
nature  of  the  subject  require  it. 

The  author  considers  himself  merely  as  a  pioneer,  who  has,  on  a  very 
interesting  question,  endeavoured  to  open  a  new  road,  which  may  pro- 
bably lead  to  a  more  extended  knowledge  of  nature  and  of  man. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction   Page  1 

CHAP.  I. 

Sketch  of  the  Historij  of  the  Grand  Khans  of  the  Mongols  and  Tar- 
tars, from  the  Birth  of  Genghis,  A.D.  1154,  to  the  Accession  of 

Kublai,  in  1257.  Unparalleled  Conquests.  Genghis s 

Laws.  Sieges  of  Samarkand  and  of  Bochara.-  Imperial 

Hunting  Circle.  A  Courailtai,  or  General  Council,  held  at 

Toncat.  Description  of  Caracorum,  the  Capital  of  the  Mon- 
gol Empire   15 

CHAP.  II. 

Of  the  Grand  Khan  Kublai,  whose  domination  exceeded  that  of 

Augustus.  Conquest  of  Manji,  or  South  China;  Bangalla; 

Burmah;  8pc-  Numerous  Elephants  received  in  tribute.  

Rebellion  in  Siberia.  Invasion  of  Java.  Invasion  of  Ja- 
pan. •  Pomp  and  Splendour  of  his  Court.   Magnificent 

Hunting  Expeditions.  Failure  of  Attempts  to  conquer  Ilin- 

dostan   53 

b 


X 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  III. 

Of  the  Employment  of  Elephants  from  the  earliest  times  in  China 

 Persia  Turan  Scythia  Tur  quest  an  Gazna 

 Thibet  Assam;  from  which  Countries  they  may  have 

been  introduced  into  Siberia   86 


CHAP.  IV. 

Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Timur  Bee,  or  Tamerlane.-  His  Battles  in 

Siberia  Russia  Hindostan  Syria  Georgia  

A  sia  Minor.  Elephants.  Extraordinary  Splendour  of  his 

Court.  His  Death  Ruin  of  his  Empire.  Embassy 

from  his  Son,  Shah  Rohk,  to  the  Emperor  of  China.  Origin 

of  the  Gypsies  109 

CHAP.  V. 

Of  Siberia.  -Described  in  Summer.  Fertility.  Wild 

Animals.  Magnificent  Scenery  Mongol  Sovereigns  

Coronation  of  the  Grand  Khan  Keyuc,  at  Olougyourt.  In- 
vadedfrom  China  and  India  beyond  the  Ganges.  Immense 

Armies  stationed  on  the  Irtish,  and  Battles  in  the  Thirteenth 

Century.  Invasions  of  Tamerlane,  Fourteenth  Century.  

Tombs;  Elephants'  Bones,  Golden  Chess-boards  and  Men, 

Golden  Plates,  fyc.  found  in  them.  Note  on  the  Conquest  of 

Russia  by  Baton,  Grandson  of  Genghis.  Tamerlane  invades 

Russia.  His  terrible  Battle  with  the  Khan  of  Capschac 

described   182 


CONTENTS. 


xi 


CHAP.  VI. 

Fossil  Remains  of  Elephants,  Rhinoceroses,  and  Buff  aloes,  found 

in  Siberia  and  Russia.  Remarks  on  the  Elephant  found  in 

the  Ice  at  the  Mouth  of  the  Lena.  Sublime  Scenery.  

Ruins  of  Ancient  Forts .  Happiness  of  the  Natives.  Nu- 
merous Errors  arising  from  Europeans  having  transferred  the 
Word  Mammoth,  the  Siberian  Name  of  the  Walrus,  to  the  Re- 
mains of  Elephants,  Whales,  fyc   228 

CHAP.  VII. 

Description  of  the  Ancient  City  of  Bangalla,  which  stood  at  the 

Eastern  Mouth  of  the  Ganges,  now  overflowed  Burmah  

Pegu,  8fc.  in  the  Sixteenth  Century;  all  of  which  had  been  sub- 
ject to  the  Grand  Khans,  in  the  Thirteenth  and  Fourteenth 

Centuries.  Bloody  Wars  for  a  White  Elephant.  Siege 

of  Pegu.  Deplorable  Famine.  Immense  Treasures .  .  .  261 

CHAP.  VIII. 

Hindostan.  Heroism  of  the  Indian  Ladies.  Court  Parades 

of  the  Emperors  Akbar,  Jehanghir,  and  Aurungzeb.  Com- 
bats of  Elephants  with  Horses;  of  English  Mastiffs  with  Ele- 
phants; of  Crocodiles  with  Horses   276 

CHAP.  IX. 

Of  Roman  and  Greek  Wars  in  which  Elephants  were  employed. 
 Marches  of  Hannibal  and  Asdrubal  over  the  Alps,  with  a 

b2 


xii  CONTENTS. 

great  number  of  Elephants.  Arduous  march  of  the  Consul 

Marcius,  with  Elephants,  over  the  Olympic  chain  of  Mountains 

in  Greece.  Of  Acilius,  with  Elephants,  over  Mount  Cor  ax. 

 Elephants  hilled,  and  some  captured  by  Cato,  in  the  defile 

of  Thermopylae  -   291 

CHAP.  X. 

Of  Roman  Amphitheatres,  remains  of  which  exist  in  Britain — — 

Italy  -France  Spain  Sicily  Greece  Syria 

 and  other  Countries   308 


CHAP.  XI. 

Sports  and  Combats  in  the  Circus  and  Amphitheatre;  in  which  were 

slain,  Elephants  Rhinoceroses  Hippopotami  Bears 

 Lions  Tigers  Hycenas  Camelopards  Cro- 
codiles Ostriches,  fyc.  in  surprising  numbers.  Grand  Tri- 
umphal Processions  at  Rome.  Chariots  drawn  by  tamed 

Lions,  Leopards,  Tigers,  Oryges  with  one  horn,  Stags,  fyc.    .  317 

CHAP.  XII. 

Remains  of  Elephants  and  Wild  Beasts  found  in  Italy  France 

 Sicily  Spain  Germany  and  other  Countries  „  338 

CHAP.  XIII. 

Sketch  of  the  History  of  Roman  Britain,  ending  A.D.  427.  

Julius  Ccesar.  Claudius.  Elephants.  Britain  is  vi- 
sited by  many  Emperors.  York,  the  Head  Quarters  of  the 


XV 


DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  BINDER. 


1  THE  Map  of  Asia  is  to  be  placed  opposite  to  the  title  page  of  the  volume. 

2  The  Emperor  Kublai,  in  a  castle  borne  by  four  elephants,  to  face  the  title  of 

Chapter  II.  This  print  is  composed  from  the  descriptions  of  Marco  Polo, 
and  the  histories  and  plates  of  Du  Halde  and  the  Abbe  Grosier. 

3  The  Portrait  of  Tamerlane  is  to  face  the  title  of  Chapter  IV.    It  is  from  an  In- 

dian coloured  drawing,  in  the  possession  of  the  Author ;  in  which  the  dress 
is  rose-colour;  the  buttons  are  emeralds,  surrounded  with  pearls;  and  the 
turban  is  white,  striped  with  gold. 

4  An  Urn  found  in  a  tomb  in  Siberia,  copied  from  Strahlenberg ;  and  Tartars 

travelling,  copied  from  an  old  book ;  to  face  the  title  of  Chapter  V. 

5  Defeat  of  Hannibal  by  Scipio,  at  Zama,  from  Catrou ;  to  face  Chapter  XI. 

6  Map  of  the  March  of  Hannibal  and  Asdrubal  from  Spain,  over  the  Alps,  to  Ita- 

ly. —  Hairs  of  a  living  Elephant.  — Tusks  of  the  Lena  Elephant,  &c.  to  face 
page  295. 

7  A  Temple  for  Sacrificing ;  an  Amphitheatre ;  and  a  Circus,  with  twenty  of  the 

most  remarkable  animals  slain  by  the  Romans ;  to  face  Chap.  XI. 

8  Plate  1. — Coins  of  Ancient  British  Kings,  to  face  page  354. 

9  Plate  2. — Medals  and  Coins  of  Romans  who  were  in  Britain,  to  face  page  385. 

10  Plate  3.— Medals  for  Victories  in  Britain;  and  Emperors  of  Britain;  to  face 

page  395. 

11  The  Walrus,  or  Mammoth ;  and  the  Narwal;  to  face  the  title  of  Chapter  XVI. 


INTRODUCTION. 


riow  defective  is  History,  and  how  small  a  portion  of  that  which 
does  exist  is  known  to  any  one  person !  Britain  was  connected  with 
the  Romans  about  four  hundred  and  eighty  one-years :  of  which  a  space 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  years  is  a  perfect  blank.  What  little  is 
known  is  collected  from  the  incidental  mention  of  that  island  by  Ro- 
man, and  a  few  Greek  authors ;  Britain  itself,  it  is  supposed,  not  hav- 
ing produced  any  writer  whatever.  Siberia  was  above  three  centuries 
governed  by  the  Moguls ;  and  not  a  word  of  its  history,  during  that 
period,  is  to  be  found,  except  what  may  be  gleaned  from  authors  fo- 
reign to  that  extensive  region, — Persians,  Chinese,  Russians,  and  Eu- 
ropean missionaries  and  travellers. 

The  pride  of  man,  in  his  intellectual  attainments,  is  humbled  at  the 
reflection,  that  he  who  can  "unfold  all  Nature's  law,"  measure  the 
diameter  of  the  sun,  and  the  distance  of  the  stars,  should,  at  the 
same  time,  be  frequently  as  ignorant  as  the  savage  of  the  most 
important  events  which  occur,  during  his  own  existence,  on  the 

B 


INTRODUCTION. 


atom  of  the  universal  frame  which  he  inhabits.  Scarcely  any  one 
in  Europe  believed  the  narrative  of  Marco  Polo.  The  information 
received  since  the  discovery  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  has  proved 
the  truth  of  that  intelligent  traveller's  book  in  a  remarkable  degree. 

At  the  death  of  the  Black  Prince,  Timur  Bee  had  worn  the 
crown  of  Zagatai  about  seven  years;  but  his  exploits  had  been  con- 
fined to  Persia  and  his  wars  with  the  Mogul  princes  who  pos- 
sessed Siberia.  It  is,  therefore,  very  probable,  that  these  heroes 
never  heard  of  the  existence  of  each  other ;  although  a  battle,  in 
which  ninety  thousand  men  were  killed*,  would  have  commanded  the 
admiration  of  that  great  conqueror. 

To  this  day,  in  most  parts  of  Africa,  the  assurance  that,  in  other 
countries,  elephants  are  tamed  and  ridden,  passes  as  one  of  the 
"  white  man's  liesf."  And  can  this  be  wondered  at,  when  my  Lord 
of  Gloucester,  on  examining  the  grinder  of  an  Elephant,  (which 
animal  was  dug  up  at  Gloucester,  and  King  James  sent  Lord  Her- 
bert of  Cherbury  to  ascertain  if  it  were  a  giant's),  assured  Bishop 
Hakewill,  that  "  he  himself  was  not  confident  that  it  was  the  tooth 
of  a  man  J?" 

The  discovery  of  fossil  bones  of  Elephants  and  certain  other 
animals,  has  filled  the  world  with  amazement;  and  though  history, 
imperfect  as  it  is,  presents  us  with  the  solution  of  the  enigma;  it 

*  See  Mezeray,  Historiographer  of  France  with  a  pension  of  four  thousand  livres.  He 
gives  the  particulars  of  the  two  days  atCrecy:  Hume  states  the  number  of  both  days  to  be 
thirty-six  thousand  and  six  hundred. 

-j-  A  French  vessel  touching  on  the  coast  of  Guinea,  some  of  the  crew  were  taken  before 
the  king,  who  was  seated  upon  a  log  under  a  tree  with  the  queen,  both  naked,  attended  by 
four  guards  with  wooden  pikes:  this  was  his  majesty's  Court  of  Justice.  His  enquiry  of  the 
strangers  was,  whether  they  talked  much  about  him  in  France?  Montesquieu,  Persian  Letter 
XLIV. 

\  Bishop  Hakewill's  Apology,  p.  229. 


INTRODUCTION.  3 

is  quite  astonishing  that  no  one  has  hitherto  searched  into  the  his- 
torical origin  of  the  most  remarkable  of  these  remains  *. 

The  ingenuity  of  the  greatest  and  most  respectable  authors  has 
been  tortured  to  invent  abstruse  systems  and  causes  for  what  ap- 
peared so  truly  wonderful.  They,  however,  have  failed  to  convince 
mankind  of  the  truth  of  their  hypotheses.  The  various  theories 
of  the  earth  have  been  resorted  to.  Of  those  which  are  supposed 
to  have  reference  to  the  subject  of  this  essay,  the  following  are 
the  principal;  but  they  are  all  involved  in  such  difficulties,  that 
perhaps  the  mind  of  no  person  has  ever  been  satisfactorily  convinced 
of  the  truth  of  either  of  them. 

Leibnitz  supposes  that  the  earth  was  a  luminous  fixed  star ;  which, 
after  burning  for  many  ages,  was  extinguished  from  a  deficiency  of 
combustible  matter;  and  that,  when  cooled,  the  moist  vapour  fell 
and  formed  the  ocean.  This  theory  is  deemed  altogether  hypothe- 
tical. 

Buffon  conjectures  that  the  earth  was  a  portion  of  the  sun,  de- 
tached from  it  by  the  oblique  stroke  of  a  comet;  and  that,  being 
removed  to  a  considerable  distance  from  the  sun,  it  gradually  cooled, 
and  the  vapours  condensed  by  degrees  and  fell  down  in  water.  But 
this  original  formation  of  the  earth  has  been  thought  hypothetical 
by  all,  and  by  many  fanciful  f.  It  has,  however,  hence  been  sup- 
posed, that  what  are  now  the  frozen  regions,  were  once  warm  enough, 
from  the  earth's  own  heat,  to  maintain  wild  Elephants,  Rhinoceroses, 
&c.J.    Others  have  imagined  that  the  obliquity  of  the  ecliptic  was 

*  The  writer  has  perhaps  heen  more  attracted  to  this  subject  than  any  other  person,  by 
the  circumstance  of  his  having  passed  upwards  of  twenty  years  of  his  life  in  Hindostan  and 
Russia. 

T  See  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Earth,"  "  Deluge."    Encyc.  Brit.  "Mammoth." 
%  Pallas  at  first  concluded  that  the  Northern  regions  had  been  sufficiently  warm  to  be 
the  native  country  of  Elephants,  Rhinoceroses,  &c.  but,  on  seeing  the  spots  where  bones  were 
B  2 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

once  so  great  as  to  include  the  Arctic  Regions  within  the  tropics. 
But  the  obliquity  being  caused  by  a  vibratory,  not  a  rotary,  motion ; 
and  the  mean  variation  not  ever  amounting  to  one  mile  in  a  cen- 
tury, renders  it  impossible  that  the  Arctic  Regions  could  have  ever 
been  warmed  by  that  operation,  so  as  to  affect  this  question:  for, 
granting  that  the  obliquity  does  arise  from  a  rotary  motion,  it  would 
require  more  than  sixty  thousand  years  to  produce  a  difference  of 
only  ten  degrees  of  latitude:  and  how  would  this  accord  with  the 
finding  of  a  Rhinoceros  upon  the  sand  of  the  bank  of  the  river  Vilui, 
in  Siberia,  Lat.  64°,  with  the  skin  upon  the  head,  and  the  eyelids  not 
destroyed  ? 

A  long  list  of  eminent  authors  attribute  the  fossil  remains 
of  Elephants,  and  other  animals  in  question,  to  the  great  Deluge. 
"  I  give  the  fact,"  says  Pennant,  "  let  others,  more  favoured,  explain 
how  these  animals  were  transported  from  their  torrid  seats  to  the 
Arctic  Regions.  I  should  have  recourse  to  the  only  one  we  have 
authority  for,  and  think  that  phenomenon  sufficient.  I  mention  this, 
because  modern  philosophers  look  for  a  later  cause :  I  rest  convinced, 
to  avoid  contradicting  what  can  never  be  proved."  It  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  this  amiable  man  and  excellent  writer  deemed  that 
this  fact  was  required  in  support  of  the  truth  of  the  deluge,  scarcely 
any  one  doubting  it,  and,  least  of  all,  a  philosopher  like  Pennant. 
In  addition  to  holy  writ,  almost  all  the  historians  of  the  world  agree 
in  this  catastrophe ;  and,  therefore,  the  deluge  stands  not  in  need 
that  this  additional  testimonial  should  be  substantiated.  In  mat- 
ters of  science,  truth  alone  is  the  object  which  every  one  ought  to 
have  in  view ;  and,  with  regard  to  the  present  inquiry,  the  usual 
interests  and  customs  of  society  will  perhaps  be  sufficient  to  bring 

found  in  Siberia,  he  changed  his  opinion,  and  thought  they  could  have  been  transported  only 
by  a  sudden  inundation.    Rees's  Cyc.  "  Elephants'  bones." 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

the  subject  home  "  to  the  business  and  bosoms  of  men,"  without 
disturbing  either  the  heavens  or  the  earth.  If  any  one  can  fairly 
and  completely  answer  my  arguments,  I  shall  admire  his  ingenuity, 
and  will  adopt  his  better  proofs.  In  the  words  of  Junius,  "grateful 
as  I  am  to  the  Good  Being  whose  bounty  has  imparted  to  me  this 
reasoning  intellect,  whatever  it  is ;  I  hold  myself  proportionably  in- 
debted to  him  from  whose  enlightened  understanding  another  ray  of 
knowledge  communicates  to  mine.  But  neither  should  I  think  the 
most  exalted  faculties  of  the  human  mind  a  gift  worthy  of  the  Di- 
vinity, nor  any  assistance  in  the  improvement  of  them  a  subject  of 
gratitude  to  my  fellow  creature,  if  I  were  not  satisfied,  that,  really 
to  inform  the  understanding,  corrects  and  enlarges  the  heart." 

To  return  to  the  subject:  The  following  opinions  have  been  held : 
Peter  the  Great  conjectured  that  some  Elephants'  bones  had  been  left 
on  Alexander's  expedition,  when  he  crossed,  as  is  said,  the  Don*. 
The  Emperor  was  probably  not  acquainted  with  the  history  of  the 
Moguls,  as  the  books  on  that  subject  were  then  scarcely  known. 
Quintus  Curtius  was  the  author  whose  works  heated  the  brain  of 
Charles  XII.  and,  thereby,  created  the  formidable  military  power 
of  Russia ;  with  the  history  of  Alexander,  the  Czar  was  of  course  fa- 
miliar. 

Voltaire  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  tusks  found  in  Siberia  had 
been  lost  by  traders.  Mr.  Tooke  says,  "if  Mammoths  lived  once 
where  their  bones  are  discovered,  it  is  certain  that  these  countries 
must  formerly  have  had  a  very  different  climate.  Did  they  get  thither 
while  alive?  what  inducement  led  them  2  have  they  been  drifted  thi- 
ther after  death,  or  are  they  the  bones  of  sea  animalsf  ?"  Leibnitz 

*  Alexander  crossed  the  Jaxartes,  which  he  supposed  was  the  Tanais.   (See  Plutarch  in 
Alex,  and  Q.  Curtius).    This  led  the  Czar  to  make  that  erroneous  conjecture. 
*j"  Russian  Empire,  Vol.  1,  p.  29. 


C  INTRODUCTION. 

and  Linnaeus  are  of  opinion  that  the  Mammoths'  horns  might  be  morse 
tusks,  but  they  are  differently  composed  *."  Marsigli  supposed  the 
fossil  remains  found  in  Europe  were  of  those  animals  slain  in  the  Ro- 
man games.  Father  Martini,  who  was  in  China  before  Du  Halde, 
was  of  opinion  that  the  fossil  bones  found  in  Siberia  were  the  remains 
of  the  animals  employed  in  the  wars  of  the  Mongols  with  the  Chinese 
and  Indians.  Camden  says,  "the  bones  of  the  abundance  of  Ele- 
phants which  Claudius  brought  with  him  to  England,  being  casually 
found,  have  given  rise  to  several  groundless  stories  f . 

The  reader  is  requested  to  keep  in  mind  that  the  bones  of  the  Mas- 
todon or  Mastodonte  found  in  America,  on  the  Ohio  and  in  other 
places,  form  no  part  of  these  researches ;  nor  do  the  fossil  remains  of 
Elephants,  a  few  of  which  have  been  found  on  the  shores  of  America. 
Some  fossil  Mastodontes  have  been  found  in  Europe.  The  writer  is 
not  without  hope  that  he  shall  be  able  to  meet  with  something  inter- 
esting respecting  the  early  connection  of  Asia  with  America,  and 
about  these  animals,  when  he  is  more  at  leisure ;  some  very  extraordi- 
nary indications,  relating  to  periods  long  before  Columbus,  having  oc- 
curred in  the  pursuit  of  these  researches. 

In  reading  Eastern  History  the  names — Scythians,  Tartars,  Turks, 
Mongols,  are  often  used  without  discrimination ;  and  without  convey- 
ing to  the  reader  a  clear  idea  of  what  people  are  particularly  alluded  to. 

Scythians,  in  ancient  history,  seems  to  mean,  in  general,  all  those 
people  eastward  of  the  Black  Sea,  from  the  latitude  40  to  the  Frozen 
Ocean. 

Tartars,  in  modern  times,  is  a  general  term  applied  to  all  the  tribes 
between  the  Volga  and  the  Japan  Sea,  from  about  the  latitude  of  40 
to  the  chain  of  mountains  which  divides  the  flat  territory  from  Siberia. 


Cuvier,  p.  55. 


f  Britannia,  p.  347,  (fol.  ed.  1695). 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

Turks  have  been  known  in  modern  times  chiefly  by  their  conquests 
in  Europe;  but  Turquestan,  the  head  quarters  of  which  has  always 
been  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Altai  mountains,  a  country  rich  in  pastures, 
horses,  and  cattle,  has  from  the  earliest  times  produced  some  of  the 
greatest  conquerors  known  in  history.  More  on  this  subject  will  be 
found  in  this  volume. 

Mongols  are  not  distinguished  in  history  till  Genghis,  at  once,  by  his 
bloody  victories,  immortalized  their  name.  Their  native  country  is 
the  neighbourhood  of  Nertshinsk,  in  Siberia,  both  on  the  north  and 
south  sides  of  the  chain  of  mountains.  The  Russians  describe 
those  terrible  invaders  by  the  name  of  Tartars.  The  armies  being 
formed  of  all  the  nations  in  Tartary,  and  the  leaders  not  having  yet 
become  much  known,  they  were,  no  doubt,  at  first  called  Tartars ;  and 
that  name  has  generally  been  used  in  Russian  history.  The  Chinese, 
in  their  history,  call  all  their  northern  invaders  by  the  name  of  Tartars : 
Oguz  was  a  Turk,  Genghis  a  Mongol,  and  Shun-Chi,  the  conqueror, 
A.  D.  1644,  was  a  Mandshur  f.  To  enter  further  into  this  subject 
would  lead  to  perplexity ;  all  that  is  aimed  at,  is  to  give  those  readers, 
to  whom  Eastern  History  is  not  familiar,  a  guide,  however  imperfect, 
through  a  path  which  no  historian  has  yet  satisfactorily  cleared  of  its 
impediments. 

It  has  been  the  object  of  the  writer  to  give  as  much  information  as 
possible  on  the  subject  of  this  essay  in  a  small  compass:  any  one  who 
is  desirous  of  further  information  may,  by  means  of  the  references, 
procure  it  with  facility  in  European  works.    With  regard  to  Eastern 

*  Perhaps  a  great  conquest  was  never  undertaken  with  more  honor,  or  achieved  with 
more  wisdom,  than  that  of  China  by  the  Mandshur  Tartars,  who  are  not  an  uncivilized  peo- 
ple. See  the  History  of  the  Conquest  of  China,  by  Palafox,  Bishop  of  Osma  and  Viceroy 
of  Mexico,  8vo.  London,  1671;  Tooke's  Russian  Empire,  vol.  2,  p.  96;  and  Du  Halde, 
vol.  1,  pp.  238,  239. 


S  INTRODUCTION. 

History,  as  those  books  are  rarely  read  and  little  known,  he  has  detailed 
as  much  as  he  deemed  requisite  to  give  the  reader  a  sufficient  know- 
ledge of  the  customs,  and  immense  conquests  and  power  of  Genghis 
Khan  and  his  descendants :  to  some  readers  that  portion  of  the  volume 
will  be  found  very  interesting. 

The  character  of  the  Mongols  is  a  mixture  of  affection,  justice,  and 
mildness  among  each  other :  but  they  exercise  the  most  barbarous  in- 
justice and  terrible  cruelty  to  those  against  whom  they  make  war*: 
one  example  will  shew  this  in  a  strong  light.  In  1221,  Genghis  besieg- 
ed the  city  of  Bamian  in  Zabulistan,  belonging  to  Gelaleddin,  King  of 
Carisme.  Towers  of  wood  were  built  to  command  the  city:  wild  fire, 
mill-stones,  flints  were  thrown  in;  and  every  kind  of  warlike  engine 
was  used.  Every  day,  as  many  cows  and  horses  were  killed  as  would 
provide  Genghis  with  fresh  hides  to  cover  over  his  towers,  to  preserve 
them  from  being  burnt  by  the  fire  cast  from  the  walls.  In  the  midst 
of  the  havock,  news  arrived  of  Gelaleddin  having  defeated  a  Mogul  ar- 
my near  Gazna.  Genghis  swore  in  his  rage  that  the  city  of  Bamian 
and  the  Sultan  himself  should  give  him  satisfaction.  One  of  his  grand- 
sons, during  this  fury,  exposed  himself,  to  please  the  Emperor,  and  was 
killed  by  an  arrow  shot  from  over  the  walls  of  the  city.  He  fell  dead 
at  Genghis's  feet;  he  was  prince  Octai's  son.  The  Emperor,  who  ten- 
derly loved  him,  was  mollified ;  he  groaned,  and  mixed  his  tears  with 
those  of  the  mother,  who,  in  a  state  of  distraction,  wept  over  and  bath- 
ed the  body  of  her  dead  son  with  her  tears.  The  Grand  Khan,  reco- 
vering somewhat  from  his  sorrow,  endeavoured  to  comfort  this  lady; 

*  "  Que  d'un  cote  Ton  se  mette  devant  les  yeux  les  massacres  continuels  des  rois  et  des 
chefs  Grecs  et  Romains,  et  de  l'autre  la  destruction  des  peuples  et  des  villes  par  ces  memes 
chefs,  Timur  et  Genghis  Khan,  qui  ont  devaste  l'Asie;  et  nous  verrons  que  nous  devons  au 
Christianisme,  et  dans  le  gouvernement  uncertain  droit  politique,  et  dans  la  guerre  un  certain 
droit  des  gens,  que  la  nature  humaine  ne  sauroit  assez  reconnoitre.  Esprit  des  Loix,  L.  24,  C.  3. 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

and  left  to  her  discretion  the  punishment  of  the  inhabitants,  when  the 
city  should  fall.  He  lavished  gold  and  silver  on  his  soldiers ;  and,  at  last, 
the  walls  were  ruined  and  Bamian  was  taken.  The  mother  of  the  young- 
prince,  entering  with  the  Mogul  soldiers,  could  not  be  satisfied  with  the 
murders,  but  spared  neither  age  nor  sex.  Not  a  single  person  was  left 
alive.  Even  this  dire  revenge  did  not  assuage  her;  but,  with  the  un- 
distinguishing  ferociousness  of  a  brute,  by  the  order  of  this  affection- 
ate mother,  the  beasts  and  every  living  creature  were  killed.  The 
mosques  and  houses  were  demolished,  and  the  city  was  reduced  to  a 
heap  of  ruins.  Since  this  dreadful  fate,  Bamian  has  borne  the  name 
of  Maubalig,  or  the  Unfortunate  Dwelling.  Octai  was  absent,  and  the 
Emperor  commanded  that  the  prince's  death  should  not  be  made 
known  to  him.  A  short  time  afterwards,  the  Grand  Khan  called  the 
family  together:  and,  purposely,  talking  unintelligibly,  Octai  made 
no  answer.  "  Whence  comes  it,"  said  the  Grand  Khan,  with  a  fierce 
look,  "that  you  answer  not,  when  I  speak  to  you?"  Octai,  believing 
his  father  to  be  angry,  threw  himself  immediately  at  his  feet,  and  said, 
"  My  Lord,  if  I  have  displeased  you,  put  me  to  death ;  I  will  not  mur- 
mur." The  Khan  made  him  repeat  these  words,  and  asked  him,  "  If 
it  were  true  that  he  so  much  feared  his  displeasure?"  "  Yes,  my  Lord," 
was  Octai's  reply.  "Well  then,"  said  the  Emperor,  "Muatou  Khan, 
your  son,  has  been  killed ;  and  I  forbid  you  to  abandon  yourself  to 
grief."  It  was  not  without  much  pain  that  Octai  obeyed  a  command 
so  contrary  to  nature;  and,  to  diminish  his  affliction,  his  father  gave 
him  the  command  of  an  expedition*. 

It  is  probable  that  the  populous  North  has  not  contained  the  multi- 
tudes generally  attributed  to  it.  The  antient  natives  lived  by  pastur- 
age and  hunting,  and,  consequently,  did  not  in  general  build  cities. 


*  Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  306.' 


10 


INTRODUCTION. 


Their  cavalry  was  the  best  in  the  world*.  When  their  population 
became  strong  enough,  it  required  only  an  ambitious  leader  to  take 
the  field;  and  perhaps  half,  or  more,  of  the  nation  would  join  him;  all 
the  principal  persons  taking  their  families  with  themf ;  and  they  could 
recruit  their  armies  out  of  the  conquered  provinces.  The  plunder  being 
fairly  divided,  would  command  volunteers.  When  it  is  considered 
that  these  troops  were  in  the  habit  of  facing  lions,  bears,  tigers  and 
other  beasts,  in  the  manner  described  in  Chapter  I.  the  wonder  at  a 
million  of  such  warriors  overturning  kingdoms  and  empires,  perhaps 
enervated  by  peace  and  wealth,  will  cease  J. 

Hindostan  did  not  fall  to  the  Mongols  til!  the  year  1525;  that 
Empire  and  Arabia  excepted,  the  continent  of  Asia  and  part  of 
Europe  were  overrun  by  Genghis  Khan  and  his  descendants  in 
about  eighty  years;  and  the  kingdoms  were  taken  possession  of, 
or  subjected  to  heavy  tribute.  All  the  countries  between  the  land 
communication  from  China  and  India  with  Europe,  were  then,  and 
ever  had  been,  enriched  with  the  Asiatic  commerce,  and,  conse- 
quently, possessed  immense  wealth  §.  The  Cape  of  Good  Hope  was 
not  discovered  till  near  a  century  after  Timur's  death.  Therefore,  if 
extent  of  territory,  number  of  subjects,  and  command  of  the  greatest 

*  Montesquieu,  Grandeur  et  Decadence  des  Romains.  Ch.  XXII. 

■f  Some  of  the  Medes  drove  up  several  waggons  loaden  with  things  that  the  army  was  in 
want  of.  Some  of  them  brought  chariots  full  of  the  most  considerable  women,  some  of 
them  legitimate,  others  of  them  courtezans,  that  were  conveyed  up  and  down  on  account  of 
their  beauty ;  for,  to  this  day,  all  the  inhabitants  of  Asia,  in  time  of  war,,  attend  the  service 
with  what  they  value  the  most;  and  say,  that  they  fight  the  better  when  the  things  that  are 
most  dear  to  them  are  present.    Xenophon,  Cyropaedia,  B.  IV.  p.  103. 

J  For  the  manner  of  fighting,  see  Timur's  battle  with  the  Emperor  of  Capshac,  when  he 
invaded  Russia.    It  is  in  the  note  on  Russia,  Ch.  V.  of  this  volume. 

§  "The  silk  of  China  was  conveyed  by  a  caravan  in  eighty  or  a  hundred  days  from  Shen-si 
to  the  banks  of  the  Oxus,  where  it  was  embarked  and  carried  down  the  stream  to  the  Cas- 
pian, and  thence  to  Constantinople  by  the  Cyrus,  the  Phasis  and  the  Euxine."  Robertson's 
Ancient  India,  p.  98. 


INTRODUCTION.  1 1 

wealth,  with  whatever  havock  obtained,  can  be  justly  deemed  to  make 
men  illustrious,  Genghis's  family  is  the  most  so  of  any  that  are  known 
ever  to  have  existed  "  What  are  the  conquests  of  Alexander  com- 
pared with  those  of  Genghis  Khan  *  ?-■'  Their  character  as  conquerors 
makes  the  reader  shudder  with  horror ;  and  it  has  aptly  been  said  of 
them,  that,  ff  Vanquished,  they  ask  no  favour;  vanquishing,  they  show  no 
compassion^" 

Justice  requires  that  something  should  be  said  of  the  opposite 
quality  of  these  persons,  so  awfully  terrible  as  enemies;  Genghis 
never  let  a  good  action  go  without  its  reward,  nor  virtue  with- 
out commendation  %.  The  fiercest  of  men  were  mild  and  just  in 
their  intercourse  with  each  other  §.  "We  are  assured  by  the  learn- 
ed author  of  the  Dabistan,  that  the  Tartars  under  Genghis  were  lovers 
of  truth,  and  would  not  even  preserve  their  lives  by  a  violation  of  it  ||." 
"  Master  George  Barclay,  a  merchant  in  London,  having  travelled 
through  Russia,  went  from  Cracovia  with  a  Tartar  duke,  who  had 
come  thither  to  sue  for  his  two  daughters,  taken  by  the  Polachs.  He 
staid  six  months  with  the  duke  in  his  horde,  which  consisted  of  about 
a  thousand  household  of  one  kindred.  These  Tartars  sowed  a  three 
square  grain  called  Totarca.  They  lived  in  such  ease  and  delight, 
every  day  hunting,  that,  for  worldly  pleasure,  he  never,  any  where,  en- 
joyed such  a  life;  with  such  liking  of  his  Tartar  host  as  if  he  had 
been  his  son.  They  used  to  make  sudden  inroads  on  the  Polachs ; 
the  gentlemen  of  Poland  not  dining  without  their  guns  and  soldierly 
serving  men  ready  to  give  them  entertainment.  If  the  Christians 
make  head  against  them,  they  know  not  where  to  find  them.  Re- 

*  Montesquieu,  Persian  Letter,  LXXXI. 

f  Letter  from  Yvo  de  Narbone  to  the  Archbishop  of  Bourdeaux.    Hakluyt,  Vol.  I. 

*  Abul  Ghazi  Bahadur,  Vol.  I.  p.  147. 
§  Gibbon,  Vol.  VI.  p.  290. 

||  Sir  W.  Jones,  Vol.  I.  p.  65. 

C  2 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

solute  they  are,  and  will  ride  with  their  bows  in  the  face  of  a 
piece*." 

The  simplest  spelling  of  eastern  names  has  been  followed.  In  refer- 
ring to  various  authors,  the  reader  is  perplexed  by  the  different  spelling 
adopted  by  several  nations,  according  to  the  pronunciation  of  their  own 
languages.  Thus  the  French  write  Cha;  the  English  Shah,  Shaw;  the 
Portuguese  Xa;  others  write  Scha,  Shaugh,  Sa.  Kublai  is  written  Cub- 
lay,  Koplai,  Cobila,  Ho-pi-lai.  Batou  will  be  found  written  Bati,  Baatti, 
Bathy,  Baydo,  Baiothuoy,  Baythin,  Baythus;  so  that  it  would  some- 
times puzzle  the  reader  to  know  to  whom  the  name  alludes,  but  for 
the  facts  connected  with  it.  Khan  is  spelt,  Can,  Kawn,  Cham,  Cane, 
Cawn; — Khaan,  Chagan,  Khaukaun,  are  said  to  mean  Emperor,  or 
Khan  of  Khans.  Mongol  is  spelt  Mogulf ,  Mungul,  Moal,  Magore|. 
A  list  of  the  editions  of  many  of  the  books  referred  to  is  at  the  end  of 
the  volume. 

Tt  may  here  be  observed,  that  in  these  researches,  very  frequent 
mention  is  made,  in  Asiatic  histories,  of  Chain  Elephants;  which  al- 
ways means  elephants  trained  for  war ;  but  it  is  not  very  clear  why 
they  are  so  denominated.  One  instance  has  occurred  in  the  course  of 
reading,  long  ago,  but  it  is  forgotten  in  what  book,  where  it  is  men- 
tioned, that  a  chain  being  held  in  the  elephant's  proboscis,  was 
wielded  like  a  lash  among  the  enemy,  but  no  instance  of  a  chain  being 
thus  used  has  been  met  with.  I  find  in  the  Ayeen  Akbery  the  follow- 
ing description  of  the  arming  of  an  elephant.  "  Teyeh — Five  plates  of 

*  Purchas,  Vol.  I.  p.  421.  XVI  Century.  Bell  of  Antermony  also  speaks  of  their  agree- 
able kind  of  life  in  eastern  Siberia.    See  Chap.  V.  of  this  vol. 

f  Before  the  conquest  of  Hindostan,  Mongol  was  the  usual  spelling ;  but  with  relation  to 
that  empire,  Mogul  has  generally  been  preferred. 

%  For  the  great  difficulty  there  is  in  the  orthography  of  Asiatic  words  in  Roman  letters, 
and  the  hopelessness  of  uniformity,  the  curious  reader  is  referred  to  a  dissertation  by  Sir  W. 
Jones,  Vol.  I.  p.  175. 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

iron,  each  one  cubit  long  and  four  fingers  broad,  are  joined  together 
by  rings,  and  fastened  round  the  ears  of  the  elephant  by  four  chains, 
each  an  ell  in  length;  and  betwixt  these  another  chain  passes  over 
the  head  and  is  fastened  in  the  kellawek;  and  across  it  are  four  iron 
spikes  with  hatasses  and  iron  knobs.  There  are  other  chains  with 
iron  spikes  and  knobs  hung  under  the  throat  and  over  the  breast,  and 
others  fastened  to  the  trunk ;  these  are  for  ornament  and  to  frighten 
horses.  Pahher  is  a  kind  of  steel  armour  that  covers  the  body  of  the 
Elephant :  there  are  other  pieces  for  the  head  and  proboscis.  Gej- 
jhemp  is  a  covering  made  of  three  folds,  and  is  laid  over  the  pahher*" 
The  Grand  Khan,  Kublai,  is  said  to  have  had  five  thousand  ele- 
phants f.  When  it  is  recollected  that  he  controlled  nearly  all  the  con- 
tinent of  Asia,  including  so  many  kingdoms  which  produce  elephants : 
that  they  were  used  in  his  wars,  (which  were  principally  against  his 
rebellious  relations  in  Siberia);  that  it  is  the  invariable  and  indispensa- 
ble custom  among  the  Mongols  to  send  to  each  other  presents  of  such 
things;  that  elephants  were  always  employed  on  Kublai's  journies 
and  hunting  expeditions;  that  they  were  sent  to  any  distance  to  fetch 
rare  trees  for  his  green  mountain,  &c;  the  number  will  not  be  deemed 
extravagant,  and  especially  when  it  is  known  that  Asoph  ul  Dowla, 
nabob  of  Oude,  kept  considerably  above  a  thousand,  in  his  trifling  dis- 
trict, merely  for  pleasure,  they  not  being  now  considered,  as  they  were 
before  the  introduction  of  fire-arms,  a  principal  strength  in  warfare  %. 
A  gentleman  of  unquestionable  veracity,  at  this  moment,  assures  me 

*  Ayeen  Akbery,  Vol.  I.  p.  125. 

j-  In  the  emperor  Akbar's  establishment  two  hundred  elephants  were  allotted  to  each  toman 
(10,000)  of  cavalry.    Ayeen  Akbery,  Vol  I.  p.  193. 

J  Captain  Hawkins,  who  was  at  Agra  in  1607,  two  years  after  Akbar's  death;  and  who  de- 
livered a  letter  from  king  James  to  the  emperor  Jehanghir,  and  was  received  and  treated 
with  particular  favour;  relates  that  the  emperor  had  "  twelve  thousand  elephants:  about  five 
thousand  with  teeth,  the  rest  females  and  young  ones."    Purchas,  Vol  I.  (B),  p.  593. 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

that  he  was  on  one  of  Asoph's  parties,  when  above  twelve  hundred 
elephants  were  in  the  field.  Instances  will  be  found  in  this  volume 
of  numbers  quite  incredible ;  but  the  author  was  not  at  liberty  to  alter 
the  text.  The  Truth  in  Eastern  history  is  often  sufficient  to  remind 
the  reader  of  the  Arabian  Nights ;  the  authorities  are  given,  and  every 
One,  according  to  his  knowledge,  is  expected  to  grant  his  belief  only 
to  what  he  may  deem  probable.  It  will  not  be  just  to  charge  the  wri- 
ter with  credulity. 

In  these  researches  the  chronology  of  Petis  de  la  Croix  has  been 
adhered  to  as  much  as  possible ;  it  is  the  most  consistent,  and  agrees 
with  the  Chinese  history.  In  some  histories,  there  is  as  much  as  ten 
years  difference  in  the  date  of  some  of  the  events ;  but  De  la  Croix 
is  almost  always  a  safe  guide. 

If  some  parts  of  these  researches  should  at  first  sight  appear  to  the 
reader  rather  incongruous,  they  will,  nevertheless,  be  found  to  bear 
directly  or  indirectly  on  the  main  object  of  this  volume;  as  relating  to 
the  power,  riches,  customs  or  manners  of  the  Romans  and  Moguls, 
and  thereby,  in  the  dearth  of  better  materials,  tending  to  prove  that 
what  they  practised  in  one  country,  they  probably  also  pursued  and 
adopted  in  the  others  which  were  under  their  government. 

The  writer  takes  this  opportunity  to  acknowledge  the  assistance 
that  he  has  had  in  these  extensive  researches  from  the  excellent  library 
of  the  Royal  Institution. 


15 


CHAPTER  I. 


Sketch  of  the  History  of  the  Grand  Khans  of  the  Mongols  and 
Tartars,  from  the  Birth  of  Genghis,  A.  D.  1154,  to  the  Acces- 
sion of  Kablai,  in  1257.  - — —Unparalleled  Conquests.  Gen- 
ghis's  Laws-  Sieges  of  Samarkand  and  of  Bochara.  Im- 
perial Hunting  Circle.  A  Courailtai,  or  General  Council, 

held  at  Toncat.  Description  of  Caracorom,  the  Capital  of 

the  Mongol  Empire. 

Genghis  KHAN,  according  to  the  eastern  historians,  was  de-  CHAP, 
scended  from  the  most  ancient  conquerors,  who  have  generally  resided 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Altai,  or  Golden  Mountains  *.  Kondou, 
in  Daooria,  or  Dauria,  an  ancient  place,  considered  to  be  the  same 
with  Tchindat-turookuoy,  on  the  river  Onon,  in  the  province  of  Nert- 
shinsk,  in  Siberia,  bears  the  reputation  of  having  given  birth  to  the 
greatest  conqueror  and  destroyer  recorded  in  the  annals  of  mankind  f. 
Ptolemy  places  the  ancestors  of  the  Mongols  %  in  the  parallels  of  50° 
and  60°,  and  longitudes  120°  and  140°.  They  are  described  as  a  dis- 
creet and  valiant  people  §. 

*  Abul  Ghazi  Bahadur,  P.  III.  Ch.  I.    Petis  de  la  Croix,  B.  I.  Ch.  I. 
f  Captain  Cochrane's  Pedestrian  Journey,  p.  489.    Lat.  50°  23',  long.  114°  25', 
by  Arrowsmith's  large  map. 

X  Spelt  also  Mogul,  Mung'l,  Moal,  Magor,  Mogore,  Mungall, 
§  Strahlenberg,  p.  454. 


16  MARRIAGES  OF  TIMOUGIN. 

CHAP.  Jouini,  who  died  A.  D.  1284,  says,  that  Genghis  Khan's  country 
^^^/  was  much  to  the  east  and  north  of  the  desert  side  of  Tartary :  that 
the  Mongols  were  divided  into  tribes:  and  that  Genghis's  tribe, 
called  Niron  Caiat,  was  the  only  one  that  was  civilized*.  Genghis 
was  the  first  who  united  all  the  Tartars  of  the  vast  regions  above  the 
latitude  50°  westward  (of  Pekin),  and  55°  eastward f. 

The  silver  mines  near  the  river  Argun,  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Mongols.  The  rivulet  near  them  is  called,  by  the  Mongols,  Mun- 
gagoll:  Munga  signifying  silver,  and  Goll  a  brook.  By  the  Russians 
it  is  called  Sercbrenkaia-reka,  which  also  means  Silver-river  J. 

A.D.  1154.  Timougin,  afterwards  surnamod  Genghis,  was  born  A.  D.  1154  § 
His  father,  Pisouca  Bahadur,  was  khan  of  Caracathay,  an  extensive  do- 
minion || .  Pisouca  having  been  for  some  time  a  prisoner  in  the  hands 
of  the  King  of  China,  and  being  ill  treated,  made  his  escape.  To  aid 
his  revenge  he  married  his  son  Timougin,  not  thirteen  years  old,  to 
the  daughter  of  the  khan  of  the  Naimans,  who  had  also  cause  to  hate 

A.D.  1166.  the  Chinese  monarch.    Pisouca  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  Timougin. 

The  nations  under  him  revolted.  His  mother,  a  noble  minded  prin- 
cess, animated  Timougin  to  set  up  his  standard.  He  was  taken  pri- 
soner, but  made  his  escape. 

A.D.  1168.      Purta  Cougine,  another  wife,  daughter  of  the  khan  of  Congorat**, 

*  Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  428. 
t  Du  Halde,  Vol.  II.  p.  255. 

X  Strahlenberg,  p.  411.  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.1,  p.  39.  Isbrants  Ides,  in  Harris, 
Vol.  II.  p.  .933. 

§  The  Chronology  and  principal  events  are  generally  from  Petis  de  la  Croix : 
many  are  from  Abul  Ghazi  Bahadur. 

||  Between  N.  Latitude  50°  and  55° — north  east  of  Caracorum,  by  De  1'  Isle's 
map  to  the  life  of  Genghis  Khan. 

**  Congorat,  on  De  1'  Isle's  map,  is  in  lat.  51°,  and  west  of  Lake  Baikal.  This 
wife  was  the  mother  of  Genghis's  four  sons  who  succeeded  him. 


TIMOUGIN'S  MARRIAGES. 


7 


was  taken  prisoner  and  sent  to  Oungh  * ,  khan  of  the  Keraits,  who  CHAP, 
kept  his  court  at  Caracorum,  as  Grand  Khan;  and  whom  Timougin's  v^^-^ 
enemies  pressed  to  marry  this  lady  himself :  but,  having  been  in  friend- 
ship with  Timougin,  he  treated  her  with  the  kindness  of  a  father,  and 
not  long  after  restored  her  to  her  husband. 

Timougin  sinks  under  the  weight  of  his  enemies,  and  takes  refuge  a.D.  1174. 
with  Oungh  Khan,  who  grants  him  an  asylum,  accompanied  by  his 
most  faithful  and  brave  forces,  who  were  few  in  number.    He,  by  his 
prudence  and  wisdom,  gains  the  ascendency  over  the  mind  of  Oungh 
Khan;  whose  daughter,  charmed  with  the  valour  and  person  of  Ti- 
mougin, falls  in  love  with  him ;  and  their  marriage  is  celebrated  with 
as  much  pomp  as  if  it  had  been  the  Grand  Khan's.    Gemouca,  a  de-  A.D.  1175. 
spairing  and  desperate  lover  of  the  princess,  now  Timougin's  wife,  ex- 
cites a  conspiracy.    Oungh  Khan,  dethroned  by  his  brother  Erkekara,  A.D.  1177. 
flees,  and  takes  refuge  in  Timougin's  camp.    A  victory  is  gained  over 
the  Tanjouts. 

Timougin  fights  the  confederate  khans,  and  gains  a  most  bloody 
victory.    It  was  not  known  what  became  of  Erkekara.    Oungh  Khan  a,D.  1179. 
was  re-established  on  his  throne  at  Caracorum. 

Sungun,  a  son  of  Oungh  Khan,  succeeded  in  producing  hatred  and  a.D.  1192, 
jealousy  of  Timougin ;  who,  fearing  he  might  be  seized,  retired  from 
Oungh  Khan's  court. 

Timougin  is  declared  general  of  the  confederate  khans.  The  ar-  A.D.  1202. 
mies  of  Oungh  Khan  and  of  Timougin  meet  in  a  plain  called  Tangut. 
The  Grand  Khan  commanded  in  person,  and  his  son  was  with  him; 
both  confident  of  victory.  The  battle  was  disastrous  to  Oungh  Khan; 
he  was  wounded,  lost  forty  thousand  slain  in  the  action,  and  the  best 
of  his  troops  went  over  to  Timougin.     The  booty  was  immense. 


Spelt  also  Um,  Un,  Aunac,  Ung. 


18 


TIMOUGIN  DECLARED  GRAND  KHAN. 


CHAP.    Oungh  Khan  took  refuge  with  Tayan  Khan,  at  whose  court  there 


were  some  Naiman  lords,  who  persuaded  Tayan  Khan  to  put  the 
Grand  Khan  to  death;  and  he  was  beheaded.  His  son  fled  to  Tibet, 
and  lived  in  obscurity;  but  was  seized  as  a  spy,  and  executed.  Ti- 
mougin  took  possession  of  all  the  Grand  Khan's  dominions,  treasures, 
and  palaces,  by  right  of  conquest.  He  was  declared  Emperor  of  all 
the  Mogul  nations,  crowned,  and  all  the  khans  bowed  the  knee  nine 
times  before  their  new  Grand  Khan. 


A.D.  1203.     Timougin  vanquished  the  khan  of  the  Naimans,  in  a  fight  which 


lasted  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  sun,  most  bloody  and  obstinate. 
The  khan  was  wounded  mortally,  and  the  slaughter  was  terrible.  Ge- 
mouca  was  taken  prisoner,  and  torn  limb  from  limb.  In  the  midst  of 
his  tortures  he  declared,  that  had  Timougin  fallen  into  his  hands,  he 
would  have  served  him  the  same  *. 

Timougin  returned  to  Caracorum,  where,  during  the  winter,  his 
court  was  filled  with  ambassadors. 


A.D.  1205.     Timougin  established  and  arranged  his  army  in  tomans  of  ten  thou- 


sand; regiments  of  one  thousand;  companies  of  one  hundred;  and 
smaller,  of  tenf. 

At  the  general  diet  at  Caracorum.  sitting  upon  his  throne,  and  sur- 
rounded by  the  princes  of  the  blood,  the  nevians,  khans,  emirs,  and 
other  lords,  Timougin  promulgated  the  Mogul  laws,  and  took  the 
name  of  Genghis  Khan  |.  "  By  the  first  law,  it  is  ordained  to  believe  that 
there  is  but  one  God,  creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  who  alone  gives  life 
and  death,  riches  and  poverty,  who  grants  and  denies  whatever  he 

*  Abul  Ghazi  Bahadur,  Vol.  I.  p.  87. 

t  This  arrangement  is  very  similar  to  that  in  the  Cyropaedia  of  Xenophon. — 
See  B.  XI.  p.  46. 

X  Spelt  Zingis,  Tchimkis,  Jenghis,  Tchinguis,  Chungaze,  &c.  Zin  is  said  to 
mean  great,  and  gis  is  the  superlative  termination. 


GENGHIS  KHAN'S  LAWS.— ARMY. 


19 


pleases,  and  who  has  over  all  things  an  absolute  power."    All  religions  CHAP, 
were  tolerated.    Some  of  his  children  were  Christians,  and  Jews,  and  s-»"-v-*»-'/ 
Mahometans ;  some,  like  himself,  were  Deists. 

"The  enemy  is  not  to  be  pillaged,  till  the  general  has  granted 
leave,  under  pain  of  death.  The  meanest  soldier  is  to  share  as  the 
officers.  There  shall  be  a  general  hunting  every  winter,  to  exer- 
cise the  troops.  Every  one  of  his  subjects  is  to  serve  the  state 
some  way  or  other.  Whoever  steals  an  ox,  or  the  value  of  one,  is  to 
suffer  death:  for  less  thefts,  from  seven  to  seven  hundred  blows,  or 
to  pay  nine  times  the  value  of  the  thing  stolen.  Husbands  are  to 
be  employed  solely  in  hunting  and  war;  all  other  occupations  belong 
to  women.  Children  born  of  the  first  wife  are  to  be  most  respected. 
Adulterers  are  to  suffer  death.  Governors  of  distant  countries  failing 
in  their  duty,  are  to  suffer  death. 

"  The  arms  appointed,  are  the  sabre,  the  bow,  the  battle  axe,  with 
some  ropes.  The  officers  to  wear  helmets,  and  breast-plates  of  lea- 
ther or  iron,  or  an  entire  coat  of  mail.  Soldiers  who  can  afford  it, 
are  permitted  to  wear  armour.  The  officers  are  strictly  to  examine 
the  edges  and  points  of  the  sabres*." 

Genghis  takes  Campion,  the  capital  of  Tangut,  and  the  countries  of  ^.d.  ^07 
Crequir  and  Cuchin.  He  vanquishes  the  Merkites,  by  the  river  Irtish:  A  D  12qs 
he  reduces  the  Rergis  under  his  dominion. 

Genghis  gives  his  daughter  in  marriage  to  the  khan  of  the  Yughurs. 
He  invades  China,  entering  by  the  great  gate  in  the  wall,  and  comes  j^jy 
to  action  with  the  king,  who  loses  thirty  thousand  men;  the  Em- 
peror loses  a  great  many  officers,  and  more  soldiers  than  the  Chi- 
nese.   He  makes  peace,  and  obtains  Cubcou  Catune,  the  king's  daugh- 


*  For  the  whole  of  the  laws,  see  De  la  Croix,  p.  78. 
d  a 


20  CONQUEST  OF  CAPSCHAC. — CATHAY. 

CHAP,    ter,  in  marriage. — Returns  to  Caracorum  with  the  princess,  a  tribute 
K^^^j  of  gold,  silk,  and  five  hundred  young  persons  of  each  sex.  Altan, 
king  of  China,  leaves  the  government  to  his  son,  and  retires  to  Nan- 
king*. 

A.D.  1211.  Genghis  invades  the  extensive  country  of  Capschac,  of  which  the 
principal  rivers  are  the  Volga,  the  Yaik,  and  the  Irtish,  and  extend- 
ing northward  to  the  Frozen  Sea.  This  country  had  been  subject  to 
Oungh  Khan.  The  whole  kingdom  submits ;  and  the  Grand  Khan 
returns  to  Caracorum,  leaving  half  his  army  with  his  son  Touschyf, 
to  govern  this  new  empire,  the  other  half  being  sufficient  for  any  un- 
dertaking. 

A.D.  1213.  The  Grand  Khan  quarrels  with  the  king  of  China,  who  had  ravaged 
a  part  of  Caracathay.  In  consequence  of  indisposition,  he  appoints  Sa- 
mouca  Bahadur  to  take  the  command  of  the  army,  with  the  eldest  gene- 
rals, khans,  princes,  and  emirs,  to  invade  China.  The  king,  hearing  that 
Genghis  does  not  command  in  person,  attacks  the  Moguls,  and  is 
driven  back  into  his  cities.  The  king's  son,  with  the  flower  of  the 
army,  defend  Pekin.  The  besiegers  and  the  besieged  were  alike  re- 
duced to  the  necessity  of  eating  one  another.  The  city,  being  under- 
mined, was  taken,  and  no  quarter  given.  The  king  poisoned  him- 
self; and  the  northern  half  of  China,  and  all  Corea,  were  added  to  the 
Grand  Khan's  empire  by  Moucly  Gouyanc,  the  general  who  was  left 
in  the  command.  Every  thing  of  the  plunder  that  was  precious  or 
valuable,  was  divided  according  to  Genghis's  law. 

A.D.  1217.  Turquestan,  of  which  the  capital  is  Cashgar,  is  added  to  the  em- 
pire by  prince  Hubbe. 


*  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  I.  p.  91. 

f  Spelt  also  Djoudgy,  Giougy,  Dzuji,  Joujy,  Zuzi.     See  Petis  de  la  Croix, 
page  104. 


EXTRAORDINARY  CREDENTIALS.  21 

Nessir,  Calif  of  Bagdad,  who  was  in  enmity  with  Mehemed,  King  of  CHAP. 
Carisme*,  wishing  to  send  an  ambassador  to  Caracorum,  found  it  al- 
most impossible;  Mehemed's  power  reaching  from  the  Caspian  sea  to 
the  Indus.  Nessir  and  Mehemed  were  both  Mahomedans.  The  ca- 
lif's council  were  divided  in  opinion,  but  Nessir's  policy  prevailed.  It 
was  impossible  to  send  any  letter  or  paper ;  which  would,  if  discover- 
ed, cost  the  ambassador  his  life.  It  was  therefore  resolved  to  shave 
his  head,  and  write  his  credentials  by  puncturing  it  with  a  needle,  and 
colouring  the  marks  with  nil  (indigo)  f.  He  soon  departed  and  ar- 
rived at  the  khan's  residence,  assuring  Genghis  of  his  master's  esteem 
and  affection.  Having  no  credentials,  and  the  Emperor  expressing  his 
doubts,  the  ambassador  requested  that  his  hair  might  be  cut  off;  when 
Genghis  read,  that  the  calif  promised  to  make  war  on  the  king  of 
Carisme,  if  the  Grand  Khan  would  attack  him  on  his  side.  Genghis 
assured  him  that  if  anything  should,  from  the  restless  spirit  of  Mehe- 
med, occasion  a  quarrel,  he  would  not  fail  to  declare  war.  The  envoy 
returned  to  Bagdad.  Nessir  drew  on  himself  the  reproaches  of  all 
Mahomedans  by  this  act. 

Genghis  was  however  desirous  to  live  in  amity  with  Mehemed  king  of 
Carisme,  to  establish  a  commerce  for  gold,  stuffs,  silks,  silver,  &c.  An 
ambassador  was  sent  attended  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  Mogul  mer- 
chants, with  gold  and  silver  for  purchasing  merchandize.  The  governor 
of  Otrar,  pretending  to  suspect  that  this  was  a  mission  for  the  purpose 
of  espionage,  murdered  the  whole  embassy,  consisting  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty  persons,  except  one,  who  fled  to  Mogulistan  with  all  dili- 
gence. Genghis  swears  revenge.  He  sends  ambassadors  by  another 
road  to  Mehemed,  to  demand  an  explanation.  Mehemed  beheads 
them. 

*  Spelt  also  Charasm,  Karasm,  Kworasm,  Chowarasm ;  the  ancient  Corasmia. 
t  It  appears  that  this  is  an  old  practice;  see  Herodotus,  Terpsichore,  Ch.  XXXV. 


2*2  TERRIBLE  BATTLE  OF  OTRAR. 

CHAP.  The  Emperor  with  his  four  favourite  sons,  Touschi,  Zagatai,  Oktai, 
and  Tuli,  arrives  near  Otrar  (on  the  Sihon)  with  seven  hundred  thousand 
A.D.  1218.  troops.  Mehemedhad  collected  from  Khorassan,  Balk,  Persia,  and  the 
borders  of  India,  four  hundred  thousand  fighting  men.  His  son,  Gela- 
leddin,  commanded  the  troops  of  Touran ;  the  king  commanded  in  chief ; 
Mehemed  crossed  the  Sihon  to  cover  Otrar.  The  armies  meet  and 
immediately  range  in  order  of  battle,  in  a  place  called  Caracou.  The 
great  trumpet  kerrenai,  which  was  fifteen  feet  long,  brass  timbrels, 
drums,  fifes,  and  other  warlike  instruments  sounded  the  charge.  Jou- 
gi  Cassar,  Genghis  Khan's  second  brother,  who  commanded  the  van- 
guard, advanced  towards  the  first  ranks  of  the  enemy,  who  immedi- 
ately detached  some  troops  to  charge  him;  but  this  prince  defeated 
them.  Then  Gelaleddin  began  the  general  action  by  charging  prince 
Touschi,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  first  body  of  Moguls :  after  a  sharp 
dispute,  Gelaleddin  got  the  better,  and  the  Carismeans  shouted  for  joy. 

Genghis  sent  other  troops  under  the  command  of  Tuli  to  support 
his  brother  Touschi,  while  he  himself,  at  the  head  of  the  main  body  of 
the  army,  with  his  son  Zagatai,  fell  on  the  Sultan.  The  shock  was 
terrible,  and  the  left  wing  of  the  Moguls  suffered  greatly.  The  Caris- 
means, animated  by  the  extraordinary  bravery  of  their  sovereign,  main- 
tained their  advantage  as  long  as  they  were  able :  but  being  forced  to 
give  way,  Gelaleddin,  having  beaten  the  troops  sent  against  him,  hasten- 
ed towards  his  father,  and  renewed  the  battle.  On  this  occasion,  Gela- 
leddin, his  officers,  and  troops,  performed  actions  of  surprising  valour. 
The  slaughter  was  prodigious.  Genghis  now  ordered  his  son  Octai 
to  charge  the  enemy  in  the  flank:  the  fight  continued  till  dark,  when 
each  party  gathering  up  their  wounded  as  well  as  they  could,  retired 
to  their  camps  and  fortified  themselves,  to  prevent  surprise  in  the 
night,  with  the  design  to  renew  the  battle  the  next  morning.  When 
Mehemed  found,  on  enquiry,  that  a  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  of  his 


TERRIBLE  BATTLE  OF  OTRAR.  23 

troops  had  been  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  spies  reporting  how  CHAP, 
much  superior  the  Moguls  were  in  number,  he  intrenched  himself  se-  ^-»—  r~^—> 
curely,  and  sent  part  of  his  army  into  the  fortresses,  keeping  with  him- 
self a  flying  camp  for  urgent  occasions,  and  giving  the  command  of 
the  remainder  of  his  troops  to  Gelaleddin  ;  who,  not  approving  of  his 
father's  design,  contrary  to  Mehemed's  command,  retired  to  Khorassan, 
and  reinforced  his  corps. 

Genghis  sent  Octai  and  Zagatai  with  two  hundred  thousand  men, 
to  besiege  Otrar;  and  Touschi,  with  one  hundred  thousand,  to  observe, 
westward.  The  Emperor  and  Tuli,  with  more  than  two  hundred 
thousand,  marched  towards  Bochara  and  Samarcand.  After  five  A.  D.  1219, 
months  siege,  and  a  most  brave  defence,  Otrar  was  taken,  and  the  nu- 
merous troops  in  it  were  butchered. 

Toncat,  Cogende,  and  other  places,  were  besieged  and  taken  by 
Touschi  Khan.  Cogende  was  defended  against  Elac  Nevian  to  the 
last  extremity,  by  Timur  Melee,  who,  when  all  hope  was  at  an  end, 
made  his  escape  in  seventy  vessels,  which  he  had  constructed.  They 
were  plaistered  over  with  a  composition  made  of  wet  felt,  kneaded 
with  clay  and  vinegar,  so  that  neither  fire  nor  arrows  could  hurt  them. 
He  was  accompanied  by  his  friends  and  bravest  warriors,  with  his 
most  valuable  effects.  They  escaped  by  causing  a  sally,  and  setting 
fire  to  the  bridge.  After  fighting  their  way  down  the  Sirr,  as  far  as 
Toncat,  they  were  stopped  by  a  chain  across  the  river ;  and  before 
they  could  sever  the  chain  with  files  and  hatchets,  they  suffered  great 
loss,  still  being  pursued  by  the  Moguls.  The  prince,  with  his  re- 
maining fighting  men,  landed,  and  the  fleet  escaped  into  a  safe  port 
belonging  to  Mehemed.  After  losing  all  his  companions,  Timur  Me- 
lee was  pursued  by  three  Moguls :  he  killed  one  of  them,  and  bribed 
the  other  two ;  after  which  he  arrived  safely  at  Quent.  Many  years 
afterwards,  he  was  in  conversation  with  a  Mogul  prince,  who,  speak- 


24  SIEGE  OF  BOCHARA. 

CHAP.    ing  to  him  contemptuously,  was  answered  with  spirit.  A  Mogul,  who 
-\^»—  was  present,  and  who  had  formerly  been  wounded  by  him  in  the  eye, 
charged  him  with  disrespect,  and  killed  him  with  an  arrow.  Thus 
fell  the  generous  Timur  Melee,  who  has  been  compared  with  the  Rus- 
tans  and  other  heroes. 


SIEGE  OF  BOCHARA. 


The  walls  of  the  city  were  very  strong,  and  the  outer  wall  was 
twelve  leagues  in  compass.  It  included  not  only  the  suburbs,  but  also 
many  pleasant  seats,  and  five  farms.  The  Moguls  forced  the  outer 
wall  in  March.  The  Grand  Khan,  accompanied  by  his  son  Tuli,  en- 
camped his  army  and  invested  the  city  in  form.  The  three  command- 
ers, with  troops,  basely  deserted  the  city.  They  were  overtaken  by 
three  thousand  Moguls,  defeated,  and  nearly  all  slain.  The  gates  were 
opened  to  Genghis.  The  governor  retired  to  the  castle,  resolved  to 
defend  it.  The  city  was  entirely  filled  with  the  Mogul  cavalry ;  they 
made  stables  of  the  libraries,  and  litter  of  the  leaves  of  the  Koran. 
The  populace  were  inconsolable ;  the  wise  men  said,  it  was  requisite 
to  suffer,  without  murmuring,  since  it  was  the  wind  of  God's  anger 
blowing  upon  them.  The  Emperor  addressed  the  principal  men.  He 
praised  God  for  the  favors  he  had  received;  declared  that  Gayer  Khan, 
who  was  in  chains,  should  lose  his  life  for  murdering  his  ambassadors 
by  command  of  Mehemed ;  whom  also  he  would  punish  for  his  cruelties ; 
and  that  he  would  clear  the  earth  of  him  and  all  other  tyrants ;  for  he 
was  inspired  by  God  to  govern  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth.  He 
then  ordered  the  inhabitants,  in  proof  of  their  obedience,  to  discover 
all  their  hidden  treasures ;  and  to  be  cautious  not  to  conceal  any  of  the 
Sultan's  friends.    In  the  city,  being  a  place  of  great  trade,  there  was 


SIEGE  OF  SAMARCAND.  25 

abundance  of  gold,  silver,  precious  stones ;  and  rich  gold  and  silver  CHAP, 
stuffs.  One  part  was  carried  into  the  royal  treasury,  the  officers  •^•^^^ 
had  a  large  share,  and  the  soldiers  enriched  themselves.  The  Mongul 
officers  discovered  that  some  of  the  inhabitants  had  sheltered  a  few  of 
the  Sultan's  relations.  The  Emperor  commanded  that  the  city  should 
be  laid  in  ashes.  The  greater  part  of  the  buildings  were  of  wood, 
stone  being  scarce.  That  great  city,  which  in  the  morning  was  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  in  all  Asia,  was,  on  that  fatal  evening,  with  the 
exception  of  the  brick-built  mosques  and  caravanserais,  a  heap  of  cin- 
ders and  ruins.  The  governor  of  the  castle,  finding  the  place  over- 
whelmed with  pots  thrown  in,  full  of  naptha  and  fire,  and  the  gate  in 
flames,  surrendered  at  discretion.  The  castle  was  demolished,  and 
the  Sultan's  principal  adherents,  who  had  so  ill  served  their  master, 
were  put  to  death. 

Bochara  was  the  seat  of  the  arts  and  sciences:  in  the  university  of 
this  city,  the  learned  Avicena  studied  philosophy,  and  produced,  in 
prose  and  verse,  more  than  a  hundred  volumes,  called  The  glorious 
Works.  It  is  observed  too,  that  he  extremely  loved  wine  and  women. 
(He  died,  aged  58,  A.  D.  1036). 


SIEGE  OF  SAM  ARC  AMD. 

After  the  taking  of  Bochara,  prince  Touschi  joined  the  Emperor, 
his  father,  in  the  camp,  within  one  day's  march  of  Samarcand,  at  this 
time  the  capital  of  Transoxiana,  and  the  Maracandis,  capital  of  Sogdi- 
ana,  of  Pliny  and  Strabo.  The  city  was  now  in  circuit  about  three 
French  leagues,  surrounded  by  an  outer  wall,  better  built  and  fortified 
than  that  of  Bochara;  having  twelve  iron  gates,  distant  a  league 
from  each  other.    At  every  two  leagues  there  was  a  fort  able  to  hold 

E 


FLIGHT  OF  THE  SULTAN  OF  CARISME. 

a  great  body  of  troops ;  and  the  walls  were  fenced  with  towers  and 
battlements.  The  city  was  well  supplied,  by  leaden  pipes,  with  wa- 
ter, and  fountains  and  cascades ;  and  very  fine  gardens,  every  house 
having  one.  From  the  top  of  the  fortress  one  sees  nothing  but  trees, 
roofs  of  houses,  ploughed  lands,  gardens,  and  even  mountains  and  val- 
lies,  within  the  outer  wall. 

The  Sultan  Mehemed,  king  of  Carisme  and  all  Persia,  had  retired 
from  Samarcand,  notwithstanding  the  Mongol  Emperor's  endeavours 
to  prevent  him.  Expecting  that  place  to  be  besieged,  he  had  caused 
sixty  thousand  Turks,  and  fifty  thousand  Persians,  under  commanders 
of  renown,  to  enter  it ;  he  had  also  twenty  of  the  biggest  and  strong- 
est elephants ;  and  so  many  people  had  taken  shelter  there,  that  the 
place,  extensive  as  it  was,  could  hardly  contain  them. 

The  Emperor,  having  arrived  before  Samarcand,  marked  out  the 
posts  which  the  generals  were  to  occupy.  When  the  engines  were 
ready,  he  caused  several  places  to  be  attacked  at  the  same  time :  these 
attacks  were  sustained  with  great  courage,  and  some  of  the  best  troops 
sallied  out,  and  overthrew  all  they  met  with ;  but,  perceiving  a  fresh 
reinforcement  of  Mongols,  they  retreated  in  good  order  into  the  city, 
with  a  great  many  prisoners.  Discord  crept  in  among  the  besieged ; 
some,  feeling  certain  of  death  if  the  place  should  be  stormed,  were  for 
surrendering  the  town.  But  Alub  Khan,  the  governor,  trusted  to 
numbers  and  valour,  and  was  for  defending  the  place  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity, in  the  castle  and  best  posts  of  the  city.  The  cady  and  muf- 
ti were  deputed  by  the  other  party  to  wait  on  the  Emperor.  After 
they  had  saluted  him,  he  asked  them— What  was  their  business? 
They  replied,  to  intercede  for  the  besieged ;  to  beg  pardon  for  the 
resistance  they  had  made,  and  to  assure  the  Khan,  that  they  were  not 
false  to  their  duty  ;  but  that  they  found  themselves  constrained  by  a 
superior  power ;  which  convinced  them,  that  it  was  God's  pleasure 


ESCAPE  OF  THE  GOVERNOR.  27 

they  should  submit  to  the  Great  Genghis  Khan;  whose  clemency  CHAP, 
they  implored  for  themselves,  and  those  of  their  friends  who  were  in  vs-*~v~ 
the  city.    The  Grand  Khan  received  them  with  civility ;  and,  fearing 
to  drive  the  city  to  despair,  he  granted  the  cady  and  mufti  life  and 
fortune,  and  also  all  of  their  party;  but  firmly  refused  favor  to  the 
rest. 

He  sent  commissioners  to  take  possession  of  the  gate  they  were  to 
deliver  to  him.  The  cady,  mufti,  and  more  than  fifty  thousand  per- 
sons came  out,  and  were  distributed  by  hundreds  in  the  fields.  The 
governor  resolved  to  seek  better  terms  by  resistance,  or  to  die  glori- 
ously. For  four  days  they  could  not  force  him  to  yield;  the  fifth, 
having  lost  all  the  posts  but  the  one  he  defended  in  person,  he  re- 
solved to  perish ;  or,  with  his  chief  officers,  and  a  thousand  chosen 
horsemen,  to  break  through  the  Mongol  camp.  They  surprised  the 
camp,  and,  in  spite  of  resistance,  effected  their  escape. 

The  forces  remaining  in  the  city  lost  all  courage,  and  the  Mongols 
were  soon  masters  of  the  place,  which  they  plundered,  ruined  the 
walls,  and  put  to  death  thirty  thousand  Turks  of  tribes  that  had  been 
subject  to  the  Sultan's  mother,  amongst  whom  was  the  prince  of 
Cangouli,  and  some  petty  princes.  All  the  people  they  intended  to 
make  slaves  of,  men  and  women  and  above  thirty  thousand  tradesmen, 
were  ordered  out  of  the  city,  and  distributed  among  the  princes,  ge- 
nerals, and  other  officers  of  the  army;  and  the  soldiers  loaded  them- 
selves with  the  spoils.  The  rest  of  the  inhabitants  were  pardoned, 
on  paying  two  hundred  thousand  dinars,  or  crowns  of  gold. 

The  reduction  of  Samarcand  pleased  the  Emperor,  he  not  expect- 
ing so  soon  to  reduce  it.  He  put  the  city  into  condition,  reposed  his 
troops,  and  prepared  for  other  enterprises. 

At  Gheucserai,  without  the  city,  Gayer  Khan,  the  governor  of 
Otrar,  was  put  to  death  by  the  Emperor's  orders. 

E2 


TEN  COFFERS  OF  JEWELS. 

"  Samarcand,"  says  Abulfeda,  "  where  the  sky  is  perpetually  clear,  has 
fine  stone  buildings  and  public  market-places,  and  has  considerable  com- 
merce with  Great  Tartary,  India,  and  Persia,  from  whence  all  sorts  of 
merchandize  are  brought ;  and  this  city  furnishes  Hindostan  with  the 
best  fruits,  green  and  dried.  The  silk  paper  made  here  is  the  finest  in 
the  world.  There  is  a  famous  academy  of  sciences.  An  Usbec 
prince  is  at  present  lord  of  the  city:  he  is  much  greater  than  the  khans 
of  Bale  or  Bochara,  who  are  also  Usbecs.  These  three  petty  princes 
are  almost  always  at  war  with  the  king  of  Persia,  and  are  leagued  against 
him*." 

The  Sultan  Mehemed  having  escaped  the  vigilance  of  Genghis 
Khan,  the  three  famous  generals,  Hubbe,  Suida,  and  Emir  Touquer, 
each  with  ten  thousand  cavalry,  were  despatched  in  pursuit  of  him. 
"  Go,  (said  the  Emperor),  do  no  injury  to  those  who  yield,  give  no  quar- 
ter to  those  who  oppose  you ;  penetrate  even  to  Derbend  in  Georgia ; 
raise  troops;  spare  no  pains  to  seize  the  Sultan,  and  bring  him  to  me." 

Mehemed  had  fled  to  Nishabour,  and  from  thence  to  Bestam,  a 
strong  city.  Here,  in  the  castle  hall,  he  sent  for  Omar,  one  of  the  stew- 
ards of  his  household ;  he  shewed  him  ten  coffers,  which  were  sealed 
with  the  royal  signet,  and  asked  him  if  he  knew  what  they  contained  ? 
The  emir  answered,  No.  Well  then,  said  the  Sultan,  they  are  filled 
with  jewels,  among  which  are  several  of  inestimable  value,  and  no  man 
in  the  world  except  these  two  (who  were  present)  knows  what  is  in 
them.  He  then  ordered  Omar  to  see  them  carried  to  the  fortress  of 
Ardahan. 

Mehemed  had  raised  some  troops,  and  having  arrived  in  Irac  Agerai, 
his  son,  Rucneddin,  the  governor,  joined  him.    He  had  now  twenty 

*  Abulfeda  died  A.  D.  1331.  The  Usbecs  were  sovereigns  of  Samarcand  when 
De  la  Croix  compiled  the  life  of  Genghis,  which  see,  p.  228.  Abul  Ghazi,  P.  VII. 
Ch.  II. 


MISERABLE  FATE  OF  THE  SULTAN. 

thousand  horse.  The  Mogul  generals  surprised  him  at  Farzine,  and  CHAP 
cut  to  pieces  the  best  part  of  his  cavalry.  The  rest  fled.  The  Sultan 
escaped  by  cross  roads  and  arrived  at  Astrabad.  Here  he  remained, 
concealed  from  the  eager  enquiries  of  his  pursuers.  A  lord  of  that 
country,  whose  uncle  Mehemed  had  put  to  death,  to  be  revenged, 
headed  some  Moguls,  discovered  his  route,  and  was  told  by  some  pea- 
sants, that  the  Sultan  was  in  a  town  near  the  Caspian  sea,  where  he 
assisted  at  the  prayers  in  the  mosque.  It  is  said,  that  the  unfortunate 
monarch,  at  hearing  the  Alcoran  read,  melted  into  tears,  and  made 
many  vows  with  a  loud  voice,  that  if  God  would  deliver  him  from  his 
danger,  and  re-establish  him  on  his  throne,  he  would  govern  his  peo- 
ple with  gentleness  and  equity.  The  traitor  lord  led  on  the  Moguls, 
and  the  Sultan  had  but  just  sufficient  time  to  escape  into  a  ship  at  the 
sea  shore,  the  Moguls  vainly  shooting  their  arrows  after  him;  some 
even  swam  after  the  vessel  and  were  swallowed  up  by  the  waves. 
The  Sultan's  sufferings  brought  on  a  pleurisy,  which  became  so  vio- 
lent, that  he  was  obliged  to  stop  at  a  desert  island  called  Abiscon. 
Here,  in  a  profound  melancholy,  Mehemed's  sentiments  were  divided, 
whether  to  chuse  life  or  death.  £1  How  uncertain  a  dwelling,  said  he, 
is  the  world!  Is  it  possible  that  of  my  immense  territories  no  more  re- 
mains but  two  cubits'  length  to  hold  my  body?" 

His  son,  Gelaleddin,  having  discovered  this  retreat,  with  two  of  his 
brothers,  secretly  arrived.  "  Prince,  said  the  afflicted  parent,  you  are 
the  person  who,  among  all  my  children,  are  the  most  able  to  revenge 
me  on  the  Moguls;  I  therefore  revoke  the  act,  made  at  the  request  of 
the  queen  my  mother,  in  favor  of  Coutbeddin.  He  then  gave  his 
sword  to  Gelaleddin,  and  commanded  those  who  were  present  to  obey 
him.  Under  the  cover  of  a  little  tent,  this  mighty  king  expired:  and 
the  first  gentleman  of  his  bed-chamber  washed  his  body  and  wrapped 
it  in  a  shirt,  having  nothing  more.    Some  time  afterwards,  Gelaleddin 


THE  QUEEN  TURCAN  CATUN. 

had  the  bones  disinterred;  and  removed  with  great  pomp  to  Ar- 
dahan. 

Turcan  Catun,  queen  of  Tekish,  the  king  of  Carisme,  sometime  de- 
ceased, was  mother  of  Mehemed.  She  was  daughter  of  Hanqueschi, 
a  king  in  Turquestan;  who  dying  without  male  issue,  his  subjects 
went  over  to  Mehemed,  and  thus  greatly  extended  his  empire,  which 
reached  from  the  Caspian  sea  to  the  river  Indus,  This  gave  the 
queen  almost  absolute  authority  in  her  son  Mehemed's  dominions. 
She  had  seven  secretaries  of  state,  men  of  the  greatest  abilities  in  the 
empire,  and  was  called  "Lady  of  the  world;  protectress  of  the  faith; 
and  queen  of  women :"  she  wrote  with  a  very  large  pen,  very  curious- 
ly, so  as  not  to  be  counterfeited.  She  was  just,  assiduous,  and  was 
beloved  by  the  poor.  Her  signature  was  obeyed  in  preference  to  her 
son's,  when  each  issued  a  command.  But  she  was  cruel.  She  put  to 
death  twelve  children  of  sovereigns,  who  were  in  her  power  as  pri- 
soners. She  hated  the  famous  Gelaleddin,  who  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Mehemed,  on  whom  she  had  prevailed  to  name  Coutbeddin,  whom 
she  loved,  as  his  successor.  But  before  his  death,  Mehemed  annulled 
that  will,  and  named  his  eldest  son  Gelaleddin  to  succeed  to  the  crown. 
On  this,  Turcan  Catun  resolved  to  abandon  the  empire,  considering 
Gelaleddin's  mother  to  be  her  mortal  enemy.  She  left  the  city  of  Ca- 
risme,  with  the  wives  and  concubines  of  Coutbeddin,  and  their  child- 
ren, and  loads  of  gold  and  jewels.  She  took  for  her  guide,  a  khan, 
named  Omar,  who  conducted  her  to  Mazenderan.  She  retreated  into 
the  citadel  of  Elac,  having  put  to  death  Omar,  her  friendly  guide,  lest 
he  might  betray  her.  Genghis  learned  from  his  spies  where  the  queen 
was ;  and  his  general  Hubbe  besieged  the  place  closely,  for  nearly  four 
months ;  when  the  queen  was  forced  to  capitulate.  She  was  sent  with 
all  her  treasures  and  court  to  Genghis.  There  had  been  an  opportu- 
nity to  escape  to  her  grandson  Gelaleddin;  but  her  hatred  of  him  was 


IMPERIAL  HUNTING  CIRCLE. 


31 


invincible  and  implacable ;  and  she  wished  him  all  sorts  of  mischief,  CHAP, 
declaring  that  she  would  prefer  any  slavery  to  all  he  could  do  for  her.  v«^»v^. 

Coutbeddin's  children  were  all  put  to  death.  The  Queen  was 
treated  with  the  vilest  indignities,  and  carried  about  in  triumph,  by 
Genghis  Khan,  through  the  territories  which  she  had  governed*. 

Nishabour,  Herat,  and  Merou  were  besieged  and  taken  by  Tuli 
Khan}  from  Gelaleddin.  Nishabour  was  battered  by  twelve  hundred 
engines,  and  other  instruments  of  warf.  Neither  house  nor  mosque 
was  left  standing  The  havock,  misery  and  slaughter  were  tremendous. 
'Tis  said  that  the  incredible  number  of  seventeen  hundred  thousand 
Carismeans  were  slain  in  Nishabour,  (which  had  often  been  the  capi- 
tal of  Khorassan),  and  its  dependant  cities  and  country.  After  many 
sieges,  and  horrible  bloodshed,  the  west  part  of  Carisme  was  added  to 
the  empire;  the  capital  of  which  was  taken  after  a  siege  of  seven 
months. 


Genghis  Khan,  being  at  Termed  in  the  midst  of  the  winter  of  1221, 
a  season  that  prevented  him  from  prosecuting  the  war,  ordered  a  great 
hunt,  to  keep  his  soldiers  in  action  j.    Touschi  Khan,  the  Emperor's 

*  The  treatment  of  Perseus  and  his  children  by  Paulus  iEmilius,  and  that  of  the 
beautiful  and  accomplished  Zenobia  by  Aurelian,  were  as  barbarous.  A  Briton 
may  reflect  with  pleasure  on  the  humanity  and  delicacy  of  the  conduct  of  the 
Black  Prince  towards  his  unfortunate  royal  captive. 

+  The  Mongols  had  Chinese  engineers. 

J  This  is  a  very  ancient  custom,  as  we  may  suppose  that  Xenophon  represented 
real  manners  in  his  Cyropaedia.  "  They  are  careful  to  keep  up  these  public  hunt- 
ings, and  the  king,  as  in  war,  is  in  this  their  leader,  hunts  himself,  and  takes  care 
that  others  do  so,  because  it  seems  to  be  the  truest  method  of  practising  all  such 
things  as  relate  to  war."  Cyropaedia,  B.  I.  p.  9.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  Per- 
sians hunted  in  the  grand  stile  of  the  Mongols. 


AN  IMPERIAL  HUNTING  CIRCLE. 


IMPERIAL  HUNTING  CIRCLE. 

eldest  son,  Master  Huntsman  of  the  empire,  being  absent,  the  Emperor 
commanded  the  nevian,  his  lieutenant,  to  prepare  the  chase ;  and  di- 
rected what  circumference  of  ground  they  must  encompass.  The  of- 
ficers of  the  army  were  to  follow  at  the  head  of  their  troops,  according 
to  the  prescribed  laws  concerning  hunting.  The  officers  having  led 
their  soldiers  to  the  rendezvous,  they  ranged  them  round  the  space 
which  was  encompassed,  in  the  manner  of  a  thick  hedge ;  sometimes 
doubling  the  ranks  about  the  circle,  which  the  Huntsman  had  appoint- 
ed. They  neglected  not  to  remind  the  troops  that  it  was  as  much 
as  their  lives  were  worth,  to  let  the  beasts  escape  out  of  the  ring, 
which  was  an  immense  number  of  leagues  in  circumference,  and  in- 
closed a  great  number  of  groves  and  woods  with  all  the  animals  that 
lived  in  them.  The  centre  of  this  great  inclosure,  whereto  all  the 
beasts  must  retire,  was  a  plain  marked  out  by  the  Huntsman. 

The  officers  of  the  chase  immediately  dispatched  couriers  to  the 
lieutenant-generals  for  the  orders  given  for  marching:  the  nevian 
himself  went  to  receive  them  from  the  Grand  Khan,  and  gave  them 
to  the  couriers,  who  conveyed  them  to  the  hunting  officers ;  having 
well  observed  where  the  Emperor's  quarters  were,  and  in  which  di- 
rection he  would  advance.  On  the  couriers'  arrival,  the  orders  were 
communicated  to  the  captains.  The  kettle  drums,  trumpets,  and 
horns  sounded  the  general  march,  which  began  every  where  at  the 
same  time,  and  in  the  same  order.  The  soldiers  marched  very  close 
together,  and  always  towards  the  centre,  driving  before  them  the 
beasts.  Their  officers  were  behind,  observing  them;  all  were  armed 
as  if  on  a  martial  expedition;  with  helmets  of  iron,  corslets  of  leather, 
bucklers  of  wicker,  scimitars,  bows,  quivers  full  of  arrows,  files,  hat- 
chets, clubs,  cords,  packing  needles  and  thread.  It  was  forbidden  to 
kill  or  wound  any  animal,  whatever  violence  the  beast  offered. — 
They  were  to  shout  and  frighten  the  game  from  passing  the  in- 
closure; for  the  Emperor  so  ordained.    Thus  they  marched  every 


IMPERIAL  HUNTING  CIRCLE. 

day,  driving  the  beasts  before  them.  All  that  is  practised  in  war,  was 
punctually  observed,  centinels  relieved,  watch-word  given.  Thus,  for 
some  weeks,  they  marched  without  interruption;  but  a  river,  not  every 
where  fordable,  caused  a  halt:  the  beasts  were  driven  into  it  and 
swam  across;  the  soldiers  passed  over  upon  round  pieces  of  hide, 
bound  together;  several  being  seated  upon  one  of  these  bundles  of  lea- 
ther, each  of  which  was  tied  to  a  horse's  tail ;  the  horse  drew  it  across  the 
river,  following  a  person  that  swam  before.  Now,  the  circle  lessening, 
and  the  beasts  finding  themselves  pressed,  some  ran  to  the  mountains, 
some  to  the  valleys,  some  to  the  forests  and  thickets;  whence,  scent- 
ing the  hunters,  they  fled  elsewhere.  They  retreated  to  holes  and 
burrows ;  but  spades,  mattocks,  and  ferrets,  brought  them  out. 

The  beasts  now  began  to  mix,  some  became  furious,  and  toiled  the 
soldiers  greatly  to  keep  them  in  the  circle,  and  to  drive  them  from 
mountains  and  precipices ;  but  not  an  animal  escaped  their  vigilance. 

Couriers  went  from  different  quarters  to  advise  the  Grand  Khan  of 
what  was  passing,  and  to  give  him  news  of  the  princes  who  shared 
the  diversion  and  confusion  of  the  chace.  The  Emperor  kept  a  strict 
eye  on  the  conduct  of  the  troops.  The  wild  beasts  being  now  hard 
pressed,  the  strong  leaped  on  the  weakest,  and  tore  them  in  pieces; 
but  their  fury  did  not  last  long. 

The  timbrels,  drums,  and  other  instruments,  were  now  played  upon; 
which,  with  the  shouts  and  cries  of  the  soldiers,  so  affrighted  these 
wild  animals,  that  they  lost  all  their  fierceness.  The  lions  and  tigers 
grew  gentle ;  bears  and  wild  boars,  like  the  most  timid  creatures, 
seemed  cast  down  and  amazed. 

The  trumpets  being  sounded,  the  Grand  Khan  entered  the  circle 
first,  holding  in  one  hand  his  naked  sword,  and  in  the  other  his  bow; 
his  quiver  was  across  his  shoulder.  He  was  attended  by  some  of  his 
sons,  and  all  his  general  officers.    He  himself  began  the  slaughter, 


IMPERIAL  HUNTING  CIRCLE. 

striking  the  fiercest  beasts,  some  of  which  became  furious,  and  en- 
deavoured to  defend  their  lives*.  At  last,  the  Emperor  retreated  to 
an  eminence,  seating  himself  upon  a  throne  prepared  for  him.  From 
thence  he  observed  the  strength  and  agility  of  his  children,  and  all  the 
officers  who  attacked  the  savage  animals.  Whatever  danger  they 
ran,  yet  no  one  avoided  it  or  gave  back,  but  rather  showed  more  ea- 
gerness, well  knowing  that  the  Grand  Khan,  by  this,  would  judge  of 
their  merit. 

After  the  princes  and  lords  had  had  their  sport,  the  young  soldiers 
entered  the  circle,  and  made  a  great  slaughter  of  the  various  animals. 
Then  the  Emperor's  grandsons,  followed  by  several  young  lords  of 
the  same  age,  presented  themselves  before  the  throne;  and,  by  a 
speech  made  after  their  manner,  desired  that  his  Majesty  would  give 
the  beasts  that  remained  their  lives  and  liberty ;  which  he  granted 
them,  praising  the  valour  of  the  troops ;  who  were  dismissed  and  sent 
back  to  their  quarters.  Those  animals  which  had  escaped  the  arrows 
and  scymitars  got  away,  and  regained  their  forests  and  dens. 

Thus,  the  hunting  at  Termed  ended,  which  had  lasted  four  month  s, 
and  would  have  continued  longer,  if  it  had  not  been  feared  that  the 
spring  would  surprise  them  whilst  employed  in  these  sports,  when 
the  war  must  be  prosecuted.  At  length,  the  spring  drew  near,  and 
the  Carismean  soldiers  being  already  arrived,  they  had  not  a  long 
time  to  rest;  for  Genghis  Khan  put  himself  at  the  head  of  his  troops, 
about  the  end  of  March,  to  pass  over  the  Oxus ;  and  afterwards 

*  Cyrus,  when  in  the  flower  of  his  age,  was  fond  of  dangerous  hunting.  Once, 
when  a  bear  rushed  upon  him,  he  closed  with  it  and  was  torn  from  his  horse,  when 
he  received  those  wounds  of  which  he  ever  after  bore  the  scars :  at  last  he  killed 
the  bear.  The  person  who  first  ran  to  his  assistance,  he  made  a  happy  man.  Xe- 
nophon's  Expedition  of  Cyrus,  p.  37.  It  is  probable  that  Genghis  was  well  pro- 
tected by  his  troops. 


SLAUGHTER  OF  MONGOLS  AT  CANDAHAR. 


35 


went  towards  Bactriana,  where  the  Sultan  Gelaleddin  had  got  an  CHAP, 
army  together.  'w-Y— *- 

The  Mongols  were  besieging  Candahar,  when  Gelaleddin  learned, 
from  his  spies,  that  they  were  in  no  apprehension  of  any  succours  ar- 
riving to  the  relief  of  the  besieged.  Gelaleddin,  having  persuaded 
Emin  Melee  to  join  him  with  ten  thousand  Turkish  cavalry,  attacked 
them  so  unexpectedly  in  the  dead  of  night,  that  the  Mongols  before 
that  citadel  were  seized  with  fear,  and  the  whole  of  their  army  were 
slain.  The  booty  they  had  accumulated  on  their  march  was  divided 
between  the  troops  of  Emin  Melee  and  those  of  the  brave  Gelaleddin. 
The  plunder  that  had  been  taken  from  the  inhabitants  of  Candahar 
was  restored. 

Gelaleddin,  who  had  retired  to  Segestan,  raised  twenty  thousand 
men,  and  arrived  at  Gazna.  His  subjects  received  him  with  affection. 
Genghis,  who  was  besieging  Bamian,  had  sent  a  force  towards  India, 
and  received  accounts  that  his  general  had  been  totally  defeated  by 
Gelaleddin ;  who  had  returned  in  triumph  to  Gazna. 

H  erat  revolted  against  Genghis ;  who  now  blamed  prince  Tuli  for 
not  having  put  all  the  inhabitants  to  the  sword.  " I  forbid  you,"  said 
he,  "to  show  mercy  to  my  enemies  without  an  express  order  from  me. 
Know,  henceforward,  that  compassion  resides  only  in  mean  souls.  'Tis 
only  rigour  that  keeps  men  to  their  duty ;  and  a  vanquished  enemy  is 
not  tamed,  but  will  ever  hate  his  new  master." 

Gelaleddin,  with  a  reinforcement  of  30,000  Turks,  defeated  80,000 
Mongols  near  Gazna.  Genghis,  still  before  Bamian,  attacking  it  with 
every  kind  of  warlike  engine,  by  which  wildfire  and  even  mill  stones  were 
thrown  into  the  city,  saw  his  grandson  fall  dead  at  his  feet,  killed  by 
an  arrow  shot  from  over  the  walls ;  at  which  he  showed  the  profound- 
est  grief.    Bamian  was  taken ;  and,  at  the  instigation  of  the  youth's 


F2 


GENGHIS'S  CRUELTY.— DEFEAT  OF  GELALEDDIN. 

mother,  every  living  being  was  slaughtered.  Genghis  followed  Gela- 
leddin  to  the  banks  of  the  Indus ;  where,  after  a  conflict  of  ten  hours 
against  three  hundred  thousand  Mongols,  Gelaleddin's  army  was  so 
dreadfully  defeated,  that  he  had  only  seven  thousand  left  out  of  thirty 
thousand;  with  which  he  ventured,  from  his  strong  position,  to  op- 
pose Genghis:  and,  lest  he  should  be  taken  alive,  he  hastily  embraced 
his  mother,  wives  and  children,  mounted  a  fresh  horse,  and  plunged  in- 
to the  rapid  Indus.  Genghis  hastened  to  the  bank,  and  the  heroic 
Gelaleddin  continued,  while  crossing  the  stream,  to  shoot  several  ar- 
rows at  him  and  his  retinue,  Genghis  said,  turning  to  his  children, 
"  Any  son  should  wish  to  spring  from  such  a  father;  and  a  wise  man 
who  has  him  for  his  enemy,  must  always  be  on  his  guard."  (After  vari- 
ous attempts  to  recover  his  dominions,  Gelaleddin  was  killed  by  treach- 
ery in  Curdistan,  in  the  year  1230). 

Genghis  finds  that  his  army  is  diminished  by  two  hundred  thousand 
troops.  The  strong  places  in  the  antient  Media  and  Georgia  are  re- 
duced by  his  generals.  Moultan,  on  the  Indus,  is  taken.  Herat 
and  Gazna  are  taken  by  prince  Octai,  and  most  of  the  inhabitants 
are  put  to  the  sword,  in  obedience  to  the  cruel  commands  of  Genghis, 
The  generals  Hubbe  and  Suida  take  Shamakie,  march  by  Derbend, 
and  take  Astracan,  having  made  the  circuit  of  the  Caspian  sea.  Geng- 
his leaves  Persia,  and  passes  the  winter  at  Samarcand, 

ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  STATES  AT  TONCAT. 

"  God  never  made  a  more  delicious  dwelling  than  the  city  of  Ton- 
cat,"  was  a  common  saying.  Purling  brooks  watered  almost  every 
street;  the  suburbs  and  country  seats,  were  delightful.    The  gar- 


GRAND  ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  STATES. 

dens  were  full  of  fruit  trees,  murmuring  fountains,  and  most  charming 
walks.  There  was  in  this  city  an  academy  of  arts  and  sciences.  Geng- 
his Khan  had  been  a  year  in  Sogdiana,  where  he  had  remitted  many 
taxes  for  life,  and  had  given  the  great  lords  of  the  country  marks  of 
his  affection,  being  pleased  with  their  deportment  towards  him.  But 
the  general  joy  was  damped  at  seeing  the  queen  Turcan  Catun,  and  all 
the  great  officers  of  the  empire,  led  in  triumph,  followed  by  the  ladies 
of  the  Haram  and  Mehemed's  principal  lords.  The  throne  and  the 
crown  were  borne  in  state.  Thus  the  Grand  Khan  marched  towards 
Toncat.    (A.  D.  1224). 

The  imperial  princes  repaired  to  court.  Octai  from  Gazna,  Zaga- 
tai  from  Otrar,  Touschi  from  the  frontiers  of  Muscovy;  the  last  of 
whom,  on  coming  into  the  Grand  Khan's  presence,  knelt;  and  the 
Emperor  gave  him  his  hand  to  kiss,  as  he  did  also  to  the  other  two. 
The  presents  laid  at  the  foot  of  the  imperial  throne  were  very  consi- 
derable; but  Touschi,  besides  several  rare  things,  presented  his  father 
with  a  hundred  thousand  horses;  twenty  thousand  of  which  were 
white,  twenty  thousand  black,  twenty  thousand  grey,  twenty  thousand 
spotted,  and  twenty  thousand  brown  bay.  The  Emperor  testified,  by 
his  caresses  and  rich  gifts,  how  satisfied  he  was  with  the  conduct  of 
his  sons. 

A  banquet  was  given,  which  lasted  a  whole  month ;  for  which  were 
supplied  thousands  of  beasts  and  birds  of  all  kinds  by  the  Khan's  fal- 
coners; exquisite  wines,  sherbet,  cammez,  and  hydromel. 

There  also  arrived  the  governors  of  Catai,  Mongolistan,  Iran,  Ca- 
racatai,  Touran,  and  the  khan  of  the  Yugures;  also  many  sovereign 
princes  who  had  voluntarily  submitted  to  the  Grand  Khan.  Although 
the  plain  of  Toncat  was  seven  leagues  long,  it  could  hardly  contain  the 
tents  and  attendants  of  these  great  personages.  The  greatest  part 
had  brought  their  moveable  houses.    These  houses  were  built  upon 


IMPERIAL  TENT.— PRIDE  OF  GENGHIS  KHAN. 

wheels,  with  very  long  beams  upon  the  axle-trees,  and  resembled  Eu- 
ropean tents ;  some  covered  with  felt  made  impenetrable  to  rain,  others 
with  stuffs  of  various  colours ;  and  were  of  all  sizes.  Some  take  to 
pieces.  Each  requires  from  two  to  thirty  oxen  to  draw  it.  The  small 
tents  were  pitched  round  the  large  ones  of  the  great  lords ;  and  every 
door  opens  to  the  south.  The  oxen  are  the  finest  ornament  of  these 
equipages.  Those  from  Tangut  can  only  be  purchased  by  rich  per- 
sons. They  are  extremely  strong,  have  hair  like  horses,  and  their  tails 
are  white  and  soft  as  silk.    In  some  places  camels  are  used. 

The  Grand  Khan's  quarters  were  two  leagues  in  compass;  with 
streets,  bazars,  and  public  places.  The  tent  for  the  Diet  held  two 
thousand  persons.  It  was  covered  with  white,  and  contained  a 
magnificent  throne;  on  an  eminence  was  placed  the  black  felt  car- 
pet, upon  which  Genghis  sat  when  he  was  proclaimed  Grand  Khan. 
This  carpet  was  held  in  veneration  as  long  as  the  empire  lasted.  The 
tent  had  two  open  entrances,  one  of  them  for  the  Emperor,  through 
which  no  other  being  dare  pass,  of  what  quality  soever,  though  no 
guard  was  placed.  On  the  tents  were  streamers  of  divers  colours,  of 
the  richest  silks.  The  saddles  and  horse  furniture  were  set  with  pre- 
cious stones.  The  habits  of  the  great  lords  were  of  gold  and  silver 
stuffs  and  rich  silks;  the  weather  being  still  cold,  they  wore  next 
their  skins,  sables  and  fine  furs  from  Russia  and  Siberia;  and  over 
their  habits,  great  coats  of  wolf  skins. 

Zagatai  had  put  the  laws  of  the  empire  into  so  good  a  train,  that 
little  remained  to  do  but  to  ratify  them :  at  which  the  legislator  was 
greatly  rejoiced. 

The  Grand  Khan,  who  delighted  in  an.  occasion  to  make  an  oration, 
spoke  highly  in  praise  of  his  laws;  declaring  that  they  were  the  cause 
of  all  his  conquests,  and  of  the  power  the  Mongols  now  shared  with 
him.    He  took  occasion  to  recount  his  victories;  naming  every  sove- 


REVOLT  OF  THE  PRINCE  OF  TANGUT. 

reign  prince  he  had  conquered;  not  excepting  the  prince  of  Tangut, 
who  was  there  present.  Not  content  to  relate  the  number  and  names 
of  the  subdued  kingdoms,  to  convince  the  diet  of  his  greatness,  he  or- 
dered that  all  the  ambassadors  who  had  followed  the  Court,  should  be 
called  into  the  imperial  tent,  and  also  all  the  envoys  and  deputies  of 
various  countries.  They  appeared  at  the  front  of  the  throne ;  he  gave 
them  audience :  and  then  dismissed  the  assembly. 

Prince  Touschi  returned  to  Capshac;  his  two  generals,  having 
delivered  over  the  command  of  the  troops,  returned  to  the  Grand 
Khan;  who  soon  set  out,  attended  by  them  and  all  his  court,  always 
making  the  captive  queen  follow  him,  mounted  on  a  chariot,  and  loaded 
with  irons,  to  shew  to  the  eyes  of  the  nations  a  proud  monument  of 
his  victories.  On  the  march,  he  gave  an  hour's  conversation  each  day 
to  the  two  renowned  generals,  Hubbe  and  Suida,  to  relate  to  him  their 
expeditions,  and  the  rarities  they  had  come  to  the  knowledge  of  in  the 
strange  countries  they  had  been  in ;  and  they  had  something  new  to 
satisfy  the  Emperor's  curiosity  till  their  arrival  at  Caracorum,  the  seat 
of  his  empire,  and  which  became  a  famous  and  populous  place. 

Genghis  had  grandsons,  whom  he  had  not  seen  for  seven  years. 
Kublai  aged  ten,  and  Hulacou  one  year  less,  were  in  the  city.  Their 
inclinations,  and  pursuit  of  hunting,  endeared  them  to  Genghis. 
The  first  became  Grand  Khan  of  the  Moguls,  and  Emperor  of  all 
China;  the  latter,  King  of  Persia. 

Schidascou,  the  subdued  sovereign  of  Tangut,  intrigues  with  the 
southern  Chinese  and  the  oriental  Turks,  who  were  disposed  to  second 
him  against  Genghis.  The  Emperor's  army  arrived,  much  fatigued, 
at  Caracorum,  in  1225.  After  the  troops  had  rested,  the  usual  hunt- 
ing was  proclaimed,  though  the  winter  was  very  severe.  Before  it 
was  ended,  Genghis  received  news  that  Schidascou  had  got  together 
a  considerable  army.    The  generals  were  ordered  immediately  to  col- 


IMPERIAL  MARRIAGE  FEAST.— WAR. 

lect  the  troops,  and  to  clothe  them  in  coats  lined  with  sheep  skins, 
and  to  cover  the  horses  with  felt. 

The  preparations  for  war  did  not  stop  the  diversions  of  the  court. 
There  were  many  marriages  between  the  princes  and  princesses  of 
the  imperial  family.  Public  feasts,  suitable  to  their  quality,  and  ma- 
ny horse  races  were  exhibited.  The  soldiers  who  were  laden  with 
plunder,  purchased  and  married  the  handsomest  maidens. 

Some  troops  marched  to  Tangut.  Schidascou  was  startled  at  the 
news,  not  expecting  them  till  spring.  The  weather  is  not  warm  in 
Tangut  till  June.  The  Mogul  troops  did  not  advance  for  fear  of  be- 
ing surprised.  The  Emperor  reviewed  his  army,  and  sent  a  hundred 
thousand  troops  for  China,  fearing  a  revolt  if  he  should  not  be  suc- 
cessful. He  then  marched  with  the  rest  to  Tangut.  He  found  that 
he  should  have,  when  joined  with  the  forces  already  there,  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand.  His  army  was  divided  into1  ten  bodies.  Zaga- 
tai  and  Octai  commanded  the  two  first.  Hubbi,  Suida,  Caraschar, 
and  other  distinguished  generals,  commanded  the  rest.  But  all  of 
them  were  subject  to  prince  Tuli.  There  was  a  flying  camp  for  the 
instruction  of  his  grandsons,  Kublai  and  Hulacou. 

The  army  crossed  a  desert  of  forty  days'  journey,  took  the  city  of 
Azine,  and  reposed. 

Schidascou  had  five  hundred  thousand  troops  mostly  furnished  by  the 
Chinese  of  Manji.  Genghis,  whose  troops  were  from  Carisme,  In- 
dia *,  Geta,  and  other  places,  and  much  inferior  in  number,  advanced, 
thinking  he  had  the  advantage  of  discipline  over  inexperienced  sol- 
diers. The  Mogul  officers,  though  very  rich,  and  the  troops  also, 
were,  by  Genghis's  orders,  dressed  very  plainly.  Schidascou's  were 
in  clothes  of  gold,  silver,  and  silk. 

*  Meaning  the  contiguous  countries  west  of  the  Indus. 


GREAT  DEFEAT  OF  THE  KING  OF  TANGUT. 

Schidascou  sent  a  hundred  thousand  horse  to  attack  the  vanguard 
of  the  Moguls,  hut  they  could  not  make  any  impression  on  them; 
and  they  retired  to  the  main  army  with  loss. 

Genghis  advanced,  and  the  armies  came  in  sight  of  each  other. 
Schidascou's  army  covered  a  large  space.  Genghis  took  a  position 
on  an  extensive  lake,  still  quite  frozen.  The  Moguls  had  quickly  the 
advantage,  but  the  generals  Mayan  Khan  and  the  prince  of  J  urge 
withstood  their  fury;  and,  charging  the  two  wings  of  the  Emperor's 
army,  killed  thirty  thousand  of  his  troops.  This  success  was  fatal; 
for,  believing  the  Moguls  defeated,  they  continued  the  fight  with- 
out keeping  their  ranks ;  and  the  corps  de  reserve  coming  up,  Schi- 
dascou, who  shewed  extraordinary  bravery,  was  vanquished.  It  is 
said,  that  he  lost  three  hundred  thousand  soldiers  on  that  dreadful  day. 
After  this  victory,  Genghis  marched  against  the  Turks  of  Jurge,  who 
submitted.  He  passed  the  next  winter  in  the  west  of  Tangut,  mean- 
ing to  conquer  Southern  China. 

News  arrived  of  the  death  of  the  Calif  of  Bagdat.  New  levies  were 
ordered;  and  Genghis  secured  to  himself  the  countries  dependant  on 
Tangut.  There  needed  so  fertile  a  country,  and  of  such  vast  extent, 
to  subsist  so  numerous  an  army  for  so  long  a  time.  The  conquest  of 
the  rest  of  China  appeared  not  difficult  to  Genghis;  and  he  said,  that 
he  now  wished  for  nothing  more  than  the  good  of  his  subjects.  But 
his  prosperity  and  joy  were  to  be  turned  into  sorrow.  While  he  was 
diverting  himself  in  the  midst  of  his  family,  he  was  informed  by  a 
courier  from  Capschac  of  the  death  of  Touschi  Khan,  his  eldest  son. 
The  whole  court  was  afflicted.  The  Emperor  shewed  at  first  much 
constancy  of  mind;  but  fatherly  affection  got  the  better  of  him,  and 
he  fell  into  a  profound  melancholy. 

An  officer  arrived  from  Schidascou  to  entreat  that  the  Emperor 
would  forgive  his  revolt,  and  accept  his  services.    Genghis  gave  him 

G 


42 


GENGHIS  KHAN'S  GRIEF  AND  DEATH. 


CHAP,    audience,  and  promised  to  grant  Schidascou  his  friendship.    The  ar- 
v^-v-^  my  was  encamped  near  a  forest,  in  a  marshy  country,  on  the  road  to 
China.    The  Camp,  of  tents  and  moving  houses,  had  the  appearance 
of  a  large  city. 

Genghis,  finding  himself  extremely  ill,  ordered  all  his  sons,  their 
children,  and  the  princes  of  the  blood,  into  his  presence.  He  placed 
himself  upright,  notwithstanding  his  pain ;  and,  with  his  usual  majes- 
tic look,  which  commanded  awe  and  respect,  even  from  his  children 
and  the  sovereigns  of  the  East,  he  told  them,  that  he  found  his  spi- 
rits sunk,  and  that  he  must  prepare  for  death.  "  I  leave  you,"  said 
he,  "  the  greatest  empire  in  the  world;  if  you  would  preserve  it,  be 
united,  and  observe  the  laws  which  I  have  established;  but,  if  you 
walk  in  the  paths  of  dissention,  your  subjects,  that  is  to  say,  your  ene- 
mies, will  soon  be  masters  of  your  empire."  He  named  his  third  son, 
prince  Octai,  for  his  successor,  as  Khan  of  Khans ;  and  all  the  rest, 
bowing  the  knee,  cried — "  What  the  great  Genghis  Khan  ordains 
is  just,  and  shall  be  obeyed  without  disputing."  The  Emperor  died 
A.D.  1226.  towards  the  latter  end  of  the  year,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his 


Eight  days  after  the  Emperor's  decease,  which  was  kept  secret, 
Schidascou,  accompanied  by  his  children  and  some  lords,  arrived. 
An  appearance  of  rejoicing,  as  if  for  the  Emperor's  recovery,  was  put 
on,  to  inveigle  him  into  the  camp.  He  and  his  party  were  all  put  to 
death,  according  to  orders  left  by  Genghis*.  By  this  bloody  trea- 
chery, Tangut  was  annexed  to  the  empire  of  the  Moguls.    After  this, 

*  Abul  Ghazi  relates,  (p.  144),  that  Genghis  received  the  envoy  with  great  civi- 
lity, but  did  not  put  himself  under  any  positive  engagement  with  respect  to  Schi- 
dascou ;  who  was  afterwards  besieged  in  his  capital,  (Campion),  captured,  and  put 
to  death,  but  Genghis's  unsparing  cruelties  sanction  the  suspicion  of  any  political 
enormity  whatever. 


age. 


TOMB  OF  GENGHIS  KHAN.— DIVISION  OF  HIS  EMPIRE. 


in 


the  Emperor's  decease  was  made  public,  and  the  grief  and  consterna-  CHAP, 
tion  were  general.  w^y***. 

The  Grand  Khan  was  buried  with  the  utmost  respect  and  magnifi- 
cence, with  all  the  pompous  ceremonies  of  the  Mogul  religion.  His 
corpse  was  interred  according  to  his  own  desire,  under  a  tree  of  sin- 
gular height  and  beauty,  where,  in  his  return  from  the  chase,  some 
days  before  he  fell  sick,  he  had  rested  himself  with  much  satisfaction. 
A  most  noble  monument  was  erected  upon  his  grave.  The  people 
who  came  to  visit  the  tomb,  planted  other  trees  around  it;  which  so 
artfully  covered  it,  and  in  such  beautiful  order,  as  rendered  it,  in  time, 
one  of  the  finest  monuments  in  the  world.  It  is  in  latitude  39°,  longi- 
tude 108°  north  of  the  great  wall.  There  was  a  great  resort  of  sove- 
reigns to  the  court  for  six  months,  to  comfort  the  afflicted  princes. 

Genghis  Khan  had  numerous  wives  and  concubines.  The  five 
daughters  of  Oungh  Khan,  of  the  King  of  China,  of  the  Khans  of  the 
Naimans,  Congorat,  and  the  Merkites,  principally  shared  his  esteem ; 
the  daughter  of  the  last  was  a  remarkable  beauty.  He  left  a  prodigi- 
ously numerous  progeny;  but  his  four  favourite  sons  and  successors 
were  all  born  of  one  mother,  Purta  Cougine,  the  Congorat  Khan's 
daughter:  the  rest  of  the  princes  were  appointed  and  limited  to  petty 
governments. 

Touschi,  was  the  eldest  of  Purta  Cougine's  sons,  the  second  was  Za- 
gatai,  the  third  Octai,  and  the  fourth  Tuli.  Genghis  having  studied 
their  tempers,  had  appointed  Touschi  to  be  Master  Huntsman  of  the 
empire,  the  most  considerable  post;  the  Mongols  being  obliged  to  ex- 
ercise themselves  in  the  Huntings.  Zagatai,  was  chief  judge,  and  di- 
rector of  all  the  courts  of  justice  in  the  empire.  Octai  from  his 
prudence  and  wisdom,  was  chief  counsellor.  The  affairs  of  war  were 
committed  to  Tuli,  and  he  was  paymaster  to  the  royal  camp  or  golden 
horde.  At  the  death  of  Genghis,  the  empire  remained,  nearly,  as  he 
had  divided  it  during-  his  life. 


DIVISION  OF  GENGHIS'S  EMPIRE. 

Touschi,  the  eldest  son,  just  deceased,  was  succeeded  in  the  sove 
reignty  of  Capschac  by  Batou  his  eldest  son ;  a  name  terrible  to  Rus- 
sia, and  alarming  even  to  Europe*.  For  a  description  of  Capschac, 
see  Chapter  II. 

Zagatai  had  for  his  part  Transoxiana,  the  country  of  the  Yugures, 
Cashgar,  Badachshan  and  Bale. 

Tuli  had  Chorassan,  Persia,  and  India  (so  called)  west  of  the  Indus. 
He  died  while  in  Catai  (or  Cathay),  with  Octai,  in  1229. 

Octai,  the  new  Grand  Khan,  kept  for  his  division  Catai  or  the  north- 
ern half  of  China,  the  conquest  of  which  he  completed,  Tangut,  Corea 
and  eastern  Siberia.  His  army  consisted  of  fifteen  hundred  thousand 
troops.  He  usually  resided  at  Olougyourt,  a  city  not  far  from  Cara- 
corum,  where  he  made  a  park  for  game,  many  miles  in  circuit,  and 
greatly  embellished  both  these  cities  f.  Octai  was,  according  to 
eastern  historians,  a  more  virtuous  and  enlightened  monarch  than 
Genghis.  He  had  much  warfare  and  some  success  against  the  Chi- 
nese of  Manji  J ;  and  his  armies  subdued  the  Sultan  of  Iconium  and  over- 
ran Asia  Minor.  "  Octai  died,"  says  Mr  Tooke,  "in  consequence  of  a 
propensity  worthy  of  this  universal  despot,  (the  effects  of  a  fit  of  drunk- 
enness) ;  and  his  death  saved  Asia  for  a  time,  and  Europe  for  ever.  An 
interregnum  of  four  years  succeeded.  The  widow  of  Octai  (the  cele- 
brated Tourakina  Catun),by  whose  intrigues  that  prince  was  thwarted 
in  all  his  ordinances,  now  set  herself  up  as  regent  of  the  empire ;  in 
which  office  she  was  continually  making  innovations,  that  tended  to  ge- 
neral mischief. 

*  A.  D.  1238.  The  inhabitants  of  Gothia  and  Frize  were  prevented,  by  their 
fear  of  the  Tartars,  from  sending  as  usual  their  ships  to  the  herring  fishery  on  the 
coast  of  England:  and,  as  there  was  no  exportation,  forty  or  fifty  of  these  fish 
were  sold  for  a  shilling.    Gibbon,  Ch.  LXIV.  note  28,  (from  Mat.  Paris,  p.  396). 

f  This  khan's  name  is  spelt  sometimes  Ugadai,  Oceadai. 

$  Levesque,  Vol.  II.  p.  78,  Vol.  VII.  p.  18,  says,  "  he  finished  the  conquest  of 
China :"  but  it  was  only  Catai,  or  the  northern  division,  as  will  appear  in  Ch.  II. 


PRIME  MINISTER,  A  GOOD  AND  GREAT  MAN. 


15 


"  Ilidchutzay,  a  descendant  of  the  dethroned  imperial  house  of  the  CHAP. 
Kitanes,  died  of  grief,  at  the  increasing  desolation  of  the  coun-  s^-v-w' 
try  which  was  now  become  his  second  home :  he  found  all  his  efforts 
to  no  purpose;  he  was  a  truly  great  and  noble  minded  man,  and 
first  officer  of  state  under  Octai.  He  polished  the  Mongols,  and  in- 
troduced the  arts  and  sciences  among  them,  as  far  as  he  was  able.  He 
saved  millions  from  their  impending  fate  from  the  savage  Mongols; 
and  highly  merits  to  live  in  the  hearts  of  mankind.  On  his  death,  in- 
stead of  the  vast  treasures  that  were  expected,  no  property  was  found 
in  his  possession,  except  several  books,  composed  by  himself,  on  history 
astronomy  and  political  economy,  collections  of  coins,  maps,  pictures, 
&c.  Who  does  not  feel  satisfaction  in  finding  one  man,  worthy  of 
that  name  *,  among  such  a  horrid  crew  of  blood-thirsty  barbariansf  ?" 

Keyouc  succeeded  his  father  Octai;  he  was  not  crowned  till  the  A.D.  1241. 
year  1244.    A  description  of  his  magnificent  coronation  is  given  in 
the  chapter  on  Siberia.    He  is  there  named  Cuyne,  (a  probable  mis- 
print),   Keyouc  died  in  1246. 

Mangou,  son  of  Tuli,  through  the  influence  of  Batou,  succeded  to  A.D.  1246. 
the  empire.    In  1251  he  gave  a  feast  at  Caracorum,  in  which  were 

*  In  the  character  of  this  great  man,  we  may  feel  the  full  force  of  the  poet's 
remark : 


"  Court-virtues  bear,  like  gems,  the  highest  rate, 
Born  where  heav'n's  influence  scarce  can  penetrate : 
In  life's  low  vale,  the  soil  the  Virtues  like, 
They  please  as  beauties,  here  as  wonders  strike. 
Though  the  same  sun  with  all  diffusive  rays 
Blush  in  the  rose,  and  in  the  diamond  blaze, 
We  prize  the  stronger  effort  of  his  power, 
And  justly  set  the  gem  above  the  flower." 


fTooke,  Vol  II.  p.  5  to  13.  Carpin  relates  that  Octai  was  poisoned;  and  that 
his  concubine  and  her  confederates  were  executed  while  he  was  at  the  court. 
Hakluyt,  Vol.  I.  p.  66. 


Pope,  Moi-al  Essays,  Ep.  1. 


SUCCESSORS  OF  GENGHIS  KHAN. 


CHAP,  consumed  for  seven  days,  daily,  eight  chariot  loads  of  wines,  two  of 
K^-^^j  brandy,  twenty  of  kumis  (mare's  milk  made  sour,  and  twice  distilled  in 
an  earthern  pot),  which  is  as  clear  and  as  good  as  aqua  vita,  made  from 
grain ;  three  hundred  horses,  three  hundred  cows,  and  two  thousand 
sheep  for  the  kitchen*.  Mangou  had  succeeded  his  father  Tuli  in 
the  government  of  Chorassan,  Persia,  &c.  which,  during  his  life,  conti- 
nued under  the  Grand  Khanate,  and  were  governed  by  his  brother  Hu- 
lacou,  as  viceroy.  He  died  in  1257  before  the  city  of  Cheu  (Ho-cheu), 
which  fell  afterwards  to  Kublai  f.  The  extensive  country  called  Thi- 
bet, was  conquered  with  difficulty,  and  cruelly  desolated  in  this  khan's 
A.D.  1257.  reign.  (Marco  Polo  p.  412).  Kublai  succeeded  his  brother  Mangou, 
and  resided  in  China.  By  his  command,  Hulacou  mounted  the  throne 
of  Persia,  &c.    For  the  history  of  Kublai  see  Chapter  II. 


This  conqueror,  a  grandson  of  Genghis,  reduced  Russia  and 
western  Siberia:  he  afterwards,  with  half  a  million  of  troops,  ravaged 
Poland,  destroyed  Cracow  and  Lublin;  entered  Moravia,  Dalmatia, 
Bulgaria,  Bosnia,  and  other  countries.  Massacre  and  destruction 
marked  his  course.  He  invaded  Hungary  to  go  and  besiege  Constan- 
tinople: but  his  projects  were  arrested  by  death  in  1256. 

William  De  Rubruquis,  a  monk,  was  sent  as  ambassador  from  St 
Louis  to  Tartary  and  China  in  1253  J.    "  When  I  beheld  the  court 

*  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  I.  159.  and  Vol.  II.  403. 

f  Sir  William  Jones,  Vol.  I.  p.  101.  At  the  funeral  of  Mangou,  it  is  asserted 
that  vast  numbers  of  human  beings  were  slain,  to  attend  their  deceased  master  : 
although  this  is  the  only  mention  of  such  a  horrid  custom  having  been  actually 
practised  at  the  funeral  of  a  Mogul  Grand  Khan,  it  is  to  be  feared  that  it  may  be 
true.  See  M.  Polo,  p.  200,  note  381.  Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  382.  Herodotus, 
Melpomene,  LXXI. 

%  Louis  IX.  had  been  informed,  falsely,  by  a  Mongol  khan  and  the  Armenian 


BATOU,  KHAN  OF  CAPSCHAC. 


AMBASSADOR  OF  ST.  LOUIS  AT  THE  COURT  OF  BATOU.  47 

of  Batou,"  says  Rubruquis,  "  I  was  astonished ;  the  houses  and  tents  CHAP, 
were  like  some  mighty  city  for  the  space  of  three  or  four  leagues  (Se-  <^*-v— ^ 
rai,  was  then  being  built).  The  court  is  called  Orda.  A  large  tent  was 
erected,  and  the  day  following  we  attended  at  court.  Batou  sat  upon 
a  seat,  long  and  broad  like  a  bed,  gilt  all  over,  with  three  steps  to  as- 
cend ;  and  one  of  his  ladies  sat  beside  him.  The  men  sat  promiscu- 
ously, on  the  right  and  left  of  the  lady.  At  the  entrance  of  the  tent 
was  a  bench,  furnished  with  kumis,  and  with  stately  cups  of  silver  and 
gold,  richly  set  with  jewels.  We  stood  bare-foot  and  bare-headed,  and 
were  a  great  and  a  strange  spectacle  in  their  eyes.  We  bowed  our 
knees,  and  stood  for  a  space  wherein  a  man  might  have  rehearsed  the 
psalm  miserere  mei  Dens;  and  there  was  a  profound  silence.  Batou 
beheld  us  earnestly,  and  we  him:  he  seemed  to  resemble,  in  person, 
Monsieur  Jean  de  Beaumont,  whose  soul  resteth  in  peace,  for,  like  him, 
he  had  a  fresh  ruddy  countenance. 

"  Batou  asked — '  If  your  Majesty  had  sent  an  ambassador  to  him 
or  no?'  I  answered — 'that  your  Majesty  had  sent  ambassadors  to 
Ken  Khan,  and  letters  to  Sartach,  (these  were  Batou's  sons,  and  his 
viceroys  between  the  Volga  and  the  Don),  being  persuaded  that  they 
had  become  Christians.'  The  guide  directed  us  to  kneel  on  both 
knees;  and  we  were  commanded  to  speak.  Then  I,  thinking  of  a 
prayer  unto  God,  because  I  was  upon  both  knees,  began  to  pray — 
'  Sir,  we  beseech  the  Lord,  who  hath  given  you  these  earthly  bene- 
fits, that  it  would  please  Him,  hereafter,  to  make  you  partake  of  His 
heavenly  blessings,  because  the  former,  without  these,  are  vain  and 
unprofitable,  and  you  will  not  obtain  the  joys  of  heaven,  unless  you 
become  a  Christian.' 

ambassadors,  that  the  chiefs  of  the  Mongols  had  embraced  Christianity.  The 
Mongols  having  vanquished  the  Saracens  in  Asia  Minor  and  Syria,  Louis  courted 
their  alliance.    See  Mezeray,  A.  D.  1249. 


JOURNEY  TO  CARACORUM. 

"  At  this,  Batou  modestly  smiled.  The  other  Moguls  began  to  clap 
their  hands,  and  deride  us ;  and  my  silly  interpreter,  from  whom  I  ex- 
pected comfort,  was  utterly  out  of  countenance.  After  silence,  I 
said — '  I  came  to  your  son,  because  we  heard  he  had  become  a  Christ- 
ian, and  brought  him  letters  from  my  lord  the  King  of  France ;  and 
your  son  sent  me  to  you :  the  cause  of  my  coming  is  therefore  best 
known  to  yourself.'  The  khan  caused  me  to  rise:  he  enquired  your 
Majesty's  name,  and  my  name,  and  caused  them  to  be  written  down. 
He  demanded — '  Against  whom  you  waged  war?'  I  answered  — 
"  Against  the  Saracens,  who  had  defiled  the  house  of  God  at  Jerusa- 
lem." (Batou  was  a  Deist,  his  successor  became  a  Mahomedan).  He 
asked  me — '  If  your  Majesty  had  ever  sent  him  an  ambassador  be- 
fore?' I  answered — '  To  you,  Sir,  never.'  He  then  gave  us  milk  to 
drink,  and  kumis,  a  special  favor. 

,  "  As  I  sat  looking  down  on  the  ground,  he  commanded  me  to  lift  up 
my  countenance ;  being  desirous  yet  to  take  a  more  diligent  view  of  us. 
Then  we  departed.  The  guide  said — 6  Your  master,  the  king,  re- 
questeth  that  you  may  remain  in  the  kingdom;  which  request  Batou 
Khan  cannot  grant,  without  the  consent  of  the  Grand  Khan,  Mangu: 
wherefore  you  and  your  interpreter  must  go  to  him  at  Caracorum.' — 
(Fifty-seven  degrees  to  the  east!) 

"  We  set  out ;  and  of  hunger,  thirst,  weariness,  and  cold,  there  was 
no  end.  In  the  morning,  we  had  a  little  drink,  or  some  boiled  millet; 
in  the  evening,  some  ram's  mutton,  or  broth.  Zinghis,  the  Great 
Khan,  had  four  sons,  from  whom  proceeded  many  children;  every 
one  of  which  doth  at  this  day  enjoy  great  possessions:  and  they  are 
daily  multiplied  and  dispersed  over  that  huge  and  vast  desert;  which 
is  in  demensions  like  the  ocean.  Our  guide  led  us  to  many  of  their 
habitations,  and  they  marvelled  exceedingly  that  we  would  not  re- 
ceive gold,  silver,  or  precious  garments,  at  their  hands.    They  en- 


COURT  OF  CARACORUM. 


49 


quired  about  the  Pope,  and  asked  if  it  was  true,  that  he  was  five  hun-  CHAP, 
dred  years  old*?    We  saw  many  wild  mules.  ^-v-**. 

"  We  arrived  at  court.  I  could  no  longer  go  barefoot,  the  cold  was 
extreme :  and  in  May,  it  froze  in  the  morning  and  thawed  in  the  day. 
There  is  no  wind  in  the  coldest  weather,  or  nothing  could  live. 

"  At  the  end  of  April,  the  streets  of  Caracorum  were  so  full  of  snow, 
that  it  was  removed  in  carts. 

"  Mangu  Khan  has  at  Caracorum  a  large  court,  near  the  walls  of  the 
city,  inclosed  with  a  brick  wall ;  where  is  a  great  palace,  in  which  a 
grand  feast  is  held  at  Easter,  when  he  passes  that  way,  and  in  sum- 
mer when  he  returneth ;  all  the  nobles  meet  here,  and  he  displays  his 
magnificence. 

"  Within  the  walls  of  the  court  there  are  also  many  dwellings,  about 
the  size  of  our  farm-houses.  William  Bouchier,  the  goldsmith,  had 
made,  because  it  was  indecent  to  have  flaggons  going  about  as  in 
taverns,  a  silver  tree  and  four  silver  lions,  and  four  pipes  to  convey 
to  the  top  of  the  tree  and  spread  downward,  through  four  serpents' 
tails,  from  which  were  conveyed  wine,  caracosmos,  hydromel,  and  tera- 
cina  (made  from  rice),  into  silver  vessels,  at  the  foot  of  the  tree.  At 
the  top  was  an  angel  holding  a  trumpet;  the  boughs,  leaves,  and  fruit, 
on  the  tree,  are  all  silver.  When  the  angel  sounds  the  trumpet,  the 
liquors  are  poured  out  and  served  to  the  company. 

The  palace  is  like  a  church,  having  two  rows  of  pillars,  and  three 
gates  to  the  south.  Before  the  middle  gate,  is  the  tree;  and  the 
khan  sits  on  the  north  front,  on  a  high  place,  ascending  by  two  flights 

*  The  Delai  Lama,  who  is  the  pope  of  those  vast  regions,  never  dies :  his  soul 
being  discovered  in  the  body  of  some  child,  by  tokens  known  only  to  the  priests : 
and  always  in  one  of  that  order. 


H 


PALACE  AND  CITY. 

of  steps :  by  one,  the  cup  bearer  mounts,  and  descends  by  the 
other. 

"  The  Grand  Khan  sits  above,  like  a  god.  On  the  right  are  his 
sons  and  brethren;  on  the  left,  his  wives  and  daughters;  one  of  the 
Empresses  sits  beside  him,  but  not  so  high. 

"  We  arrived  near  Caracorum  on  Palm  Sunday;  we  blessed  the 
willow  boughs,  which  had  yet  no  bud.  We  entered  the  city  about 
nine,  carrying  the  cross  aloft;  passing  through  the  street  of  the  Sara- 
cens, where  the  market  and  fair  are,  to  the  church ;  and  the  Nesto- 
rians  met  us  in  procession.  Mass  was  said,  and  they  communi- 
cated. 

"  Master  William,  the  goldsmith,  brought  us,  with  joy,  to  his  inn, 
to  sup  with  him;  he  had  a  Mahomedan  wife,  who  was  born  in  Hun- 
gary, and  could  speak  the  French  and  Comanian  languages.  We 
found  there  one  Basilicus,  the  son  of  an  Englishman,  born  in  Hunga- 
ry, and  who  was  skilful  in  the  same  languages. 

"  Next  morning  the  khan  entered  his  palace.  I  much  deliberated 
whether  I  should  go  to  him  with  the  monk  and  the  priest,  seeing 
their  actions  were  full  of  idolatry  and  sorcery ;  but,  fearing  offence, 
I  went,  and  prayed  for  the  whole  church  with  a  loud  voice;  and  also 
for  the  khan  himself,  that  God  would  direct  him  in  the  way  of  sal- 
vation. 

"  The  palace  was  full  of  men  and  women ;  the  court  of  which  was 
very  neat;  the  rivers,  in  summer,  being  conveyed  to  every  place, 
whereby  it  is  watered. 

"  The  city  of  Caracorum  is  not  so  good  as  the  Castle  of  Saint  De- 
nis ;  and  the  monastery  of  Saint  Denis  is  worth  ten  times  the  palace. 
There  are  but  two  streets ;  one  for  the  Mahomedans,  where  the  fairs 
are  kept;  and  many  merchants  resort  thither  by  reason  of  the  court, 


DEPARTURE  OF  THE  MONK  RUBRUQUIS. 


51 


and  the  number  of  ambassadors.  There  is  also  a  street  for  the  Ca-  CHAP, 
thayans.  Without  those  streets,  there  are  great  palaces,  which  are  \^-v-^h. 
the  courts  of  the  secretaries*. 

"  On  our  arrival,  we,  and  all  strangers,  severally,  were  called  be- 
fore Bulgai,  the  chief  secretary,  and  diligently  questioned ;  for  Man- 
gu  Khan  had  been  told,  that  four  hundred  assassins  had  gone  forth, 
in  divers  habits,  to  kill  him  f .  His  mother  is  a  Christian,  and  Mas- 
ter William  is  her  servant. 

"  Having  had  permission  to  stay  two  months,  and  five  being  gone 
by,  I  was  sent  for,  and  the  khan  asked  me  — '  If  I  would  have  gold, 
silver,  or  costly  garments?' — which  I  declined;  but  said,  we  have  not 
wherewith  to  bear  our  expenses ;  on  which,  he  provided  for  us  all  ne- 
cessaries to  pass  through  his  country.  s  You  came  from  Batou 
Khan,  and  must  return  that  way,'  said  he.  I  then  said — '  I  would 
request  your  Magnificence,  when  I  have  carried  your  letters,  that  it 
may  be  lawful  for  me  to  return.'  He  held  his  peace,  as  it  were  in  a 
muse.  My  interpreter  desired  me  not  to  speak;  and  Mangu  Khan 
said — ■  Make  yourself  strong  with  food;'  and  he  caused  them  to  give 
me  drink,  and  I  departed.  If  I  had  been  endowed  with  power  to  do 
wonders,  as  Moses  did,  peradventure  he  had  humbled  himself. 

"  I  saw,  at  Caracorum,  the  ambassador  of  the  Khan  of  Bagdat,  and 
one  from  a  Soldan  of  India,  who  brought  eight  leopards,  and  ten  hare 

*  Some  account  of  the  ruins  of  Caracorum  and  Olougyourt  is  given  in  the  fifth 
Chapter. 

t  In  1262,  Hulacou,  King  of  Persia,  sent  an  army,  and  besieged  the  old  man 
of  the  mountain  for  three  years.  The  old  man  was  put  to  death,  his  castle  dis- 
mantled, and  his  paradise  destroyed.  Marco  Polo,  p.  112;  where  there  is  a  full 
description  and  notes.  This  inhuman  being,  and  his  subjects,  pretended  that 
they  were  descended  from  Arsaces,  founder  of  the  Parthian  empire.  They  were 
for  that  reason  called  Arsacians  ;  which  has  been  corrupted  into  the  word  Assas- 
sins.   See  Abul  Ghazi  Bahadur,  Vol.  I.  p.  185,  note. 

H2 


THE  GRAND  KHAN'S  LETTER  TO  LOUIS  IX. 

hounds,  taught  to  sit  on  the  horses'  buttocks,  as  leopards  do,  for  hunt- 
ing. There  were  ambassadors  from  the  Soldan  of  Turkey,  who 
brought  rich  presents;  they  told  the  Grand  Khan  he  wanted  not 
gold  or  silver,  but  men ;  and  that  he  required  of  him  an  army* 

"  We  would  not  wait  for  company  to  travel  by  the  towns  or  vil- 
lages, but  we  went  high  in  the  north,  it  being  summer,  and  found  no 
towns,  but  many  tombs.  We  descended  from  the  north  to  Serai, 
where  Batou's  palace  stands,  just  one  year  after  we  had  departed. 
When  I  left  Serai,  we  met  with  one  of  Batou's  sons,  with  many  fal- 
coners and  falcons.  We  proceeded  through  Derbend,  by  the  river 
Araxes,  and  Turkey,  to  Cyprus*. 

"  The  substance  of  the  long  letter  of  Mangu  to  St.  Louis,  is — ■  There 
is  but  one  eternal  God  in  heaven ;  and  on  earth,  but  one  lord,  Geng- 
his Khan.  The  man,  called  David,  who  said  he  was  our  ambassador 
to  you,  was  a  liar.  You  sent  ambassadors  to  Sartach,  Sartach  sent 
them  to  Batou,  and  he  to  me,  as  the  greatest.  If  you  will  obey  us, 
send  ambassadors,  and  we  shall  know  if  you  will  have  war  or  peace. 
If  you  lead  an  army  against  us,  to  know  what  we  can  do,  the  eternal 
God  himself  alone  knows  that.f" 

*  St.  Louis  was  then  at  Cyprus.  It  was  in  the  year  of  Rubruquis'  return,  that 
this  king  requested  Pope  Alexander  IV.  to  appoint  Inquisitors  in  France ;  where 
the  butchery  of  heretics  was  horrible.    See  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Inquisition." 

f  William  de  Rubruquis,  in  Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  I.  p.  556.  The  letter  was 
in  the  Mongol  language,  but  in  the  Yugurian  characters.  The  lines  were  from 
the  top  to  the  bottom,  and  multiplied  from  the  left  to  the  right.  The  Monguls 
adopt  the  Yugurian  character  in  preference  to  their  own.    P.  de  la  Croix,  p.  96. 


a 


G-BAEU  KHAI    01    THE    IOIGOLS   AIB    TARTARS  : 
C  ommaiLdm.g  in.  a  1  attle  f o  u.g  lit 
1  e  twe  en  P  eMn  h,  Sit  ena  in  whic  h.  yr  ex  e  Ifcifoked  Jpnl.II  ^JJitf 

860,000    Comiatants  . 


53 


CHAPTER  II. 


Of  the  Grand  Khan  Kublai,  whose  domination  exceeded  that  of 

Augustus.  Conquest  of  Matiji,  or  South  China;  Bangal- 

la ;  Burmah;  fyc.  Numerous  Elephants  received  in  tri- 
bute. Rebellion  in  Siberia.  Invasion  of  Java.  Inva- 
sion of  Japan.  Pomp  and  Splendour  of  his  Court.  Mag- 
nificent Hunting  Expeditions.  Failure  of  Attempts  to  con- 
quer Hindostan. 


The  Roman  Empire,  in  its  utmost  grandeur,  under  Augustus  Cae- 
sar, comprised  not  near  the  extent  of  territory,  number  of  subjects,  or 
riches  of  this  Mongul  Emperor ;  the  fruits  of  less  than  eighty  years  *. 
Kublai  was  the  third  son  of  Tuli,  (who  was  the  fourth  son  of  Genghis 
Khan,)  a  distinguished  general,  and  treasurer  of  the  army  and  the  royal 
camp.    Kublai  was  born  in  the  year  1214.  ^  D 

*  The  Roman  empire  was  two  thousand  miles  in  breadth  from  the  wall  of  Anto- 
ninus in  Britain  and  the  northern  limit  of  Dacia,  to  mount  Atlas,  and  the  Tropic 
of  Cancer.  It  extendedin  length  more  than  three  thousand  miles,  from  the  West- 
ern Ocean  to  the  Euphrates.    Gibbon,  Chapter  I. 

The  Mongul  empire  was  two  thousand  four  hundred  miles  in  breadth  from  Yu- 
nan  to  latitude  sixty :  and  in  length,  from  the  sea  of  Japan  to  the  Don,  upwards 
of  four  thousand  miles.  The  comparison  is  therefore  enormously  in  favour  of 
Genghis's  family. 


54  KUBLAI'S  PERSON  DESCRIBED. 

CHAP.       The  first  pleasure  the  Emperor  enjoyed,  on  his  return  to  Caraco- 
v^^v-w^    rum,  was  the  sight  of  some  of  his  grandsons,  whom  he  had  not  seen 
for  seven  years.    Among  these  were  two,  of  whom  he  had  conceived 
A.D.  1224.  great  hopes:  their  names  were  Kublai  and  Hulacou;  the  first,  about 
ten,  the  other  nine  years  old.    They  continually  employed  themselves 
in  hunting,  a  disposition  much  admired  by  the  Mongols. 

The  Grand  Khan  was  so  extremely  pleased  at  their  courage  and  in- 
clination for  this  sport,  that  he  gave  them  employments  near  him ;  and 
took  the  trouble  to  instruct  them  himself.  On  the  march  to  Tangut, 
the  emperor  ordered  a  flying  camp  for  the  instruction  of  these  two  fa- 
vourite grandsons,  who  became  so  famous  in  history.  In  1226,  Geng- 
his Khan  died. 

The  Grand  Khan  Mangu,  some  years  before  his  death,  appointed 
Kublai  viceroy  of  the  conquered  part  or  northern  half  of  China. 

When  Mangu  was  killed  in  China,  his  brother  Kublai  was  pro- 
A.D.  1257.  claimed  Grand  Khan.  He  is  described  as  of  "  the  middle  stature,  his 
limbs  well  formed,  and  his  whole  figure  of  a  just  proportion,  His 
complexion  is  fair  and  occasionally  suffused  with  red,  like  the  bright 
tint  of  the  rose,  which  adds  much  grace  to  his  countenance.  His 
eyes  are  black  and  handsome,  his  nose  is  well  shaped  and  promi- 
nent*." 

The  youngest  brother,  Articbouga,  opposed  Kublai's  advancement 
to  the  throne  of  the  empire,  and  set  up  his  standard,  at  the  head  of  a 
large  army,  at  Caracorum :  he  had  also  a  great  party  in  the  Chinese 
provinces,  who  favoured  him. 

After  several  battles,  in  the  last  Kublai  gained  a  bloody  victory. 
His  brother  was  taken  prisoner,  closely  immured,  and  died  at  the  end 


*  Marco  Polo,  p.  281. 


CONQUEST  OF  BANGALLA. 


55 


CHAP. 


of  a  year*.    After  this  war,  Kublai  resided  entirely  in  China:  first,  at  u 
the  capital  of  Shan-si,  and  afterwards  at  Pekinf. 

From  1268,  during  the  whole  reign  of  Kublai,  to  1294,  he  carried  A.D.  1268. 
on  a  war  with  his  nephew,  Kaidu,  who  was  very  powerful.    The  bat- 
tles were  generally  fought  on  the  banks  of  the  Irtish  J, 

In  a  great  battle  with  the  king  of  Mien  and  Bangalla,  the  Grand 
Khan's  general  captured  more  than  two  hundred  elephants.  From  A.D.  1272. 
this  period  the  Grand  Khan  has  always  chosen  to  employ  elephants  in 
his  armies,  which  before  that  time  he  had  not  done.  By  this  victory 
his  majesty  annexed  to  his  dominions  the  whole  of  the  territories  of 
the  king  of  Bangalla  and  Mien  §.  Mien  is  a  magnificent  city  ||,  the  ca- 
pital of  a  kingdom,  a  former  monarch  of  which,  when  he  was  near  his 
end,  gave  orders  for  erecting,  on  the  place  of  his  interment,  two  pyra- 
midal towers,  ten  paces  in  height,  entirely  of  marble,  each  terminat- 
ing with  a  ball;  one  of  these  pyramids  was  adorned  with  a  plate  of 
gold  an  inch  in  thickness.  The  tomb  was  covered  with  a  plate  part- 
ly of  gold,  partly  of  silver.  Around  the  balls  were  suspended  small  bells 
of  gold  and  silver,  which  sounded  when  put  in  motion  by  the  wind. 

*  Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  399.  Levesque  says,  Kublai  was  the  youngest  brother; 
but  he  gives  no  authority  for  that  assertion. 

f  Pekin  is  the  Chinese  name,  meaning  the  northern  Court.  Khanbalig  or 
Cambalu  is  the  Tartar  name,  signifying  the  city  of  the  Khan  or  sovereign.  See 
Notes  to  Marco  Polo,  B.II.  Ch.  VII.  Du.  Halde,  Vol.  I.  p.  215.  Mr.  Bell,  chap. 
XI.  says  "  On  the  15th  of  February,  1721, 1  took  a  ride  round  the  walls  of  the  city 
which  I  performed  at  an  easy  trot  in  four  hours ;  whereby  the  compass  of  Pekin 
may  be  nearly  computed.  The  suburbs,  especially  to  the  east  and  south,  are  ve- 
ry extensive,  and,  in  many  places  of  them,  the  buildings  are  equal  to  those  within 
the  walls. 

$  See  Chapter  V.  on  Siberia. 

§  Marco  Polo,  p.  441.    For  some  account  of  the  battle,  and  for  the  description 
of  this  Bangalla,  see  chapter  VII. 

||  Could  this  city  be  Ava  ?  see  Marco  Polo,  note  864. 


BURMAH.— ZIAMBA.— TRIBUTE  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


This  sepulchre  was  respected  by  the  Grand  Khan's  commands,  the 
Tartars  never  violating  the  tombs  of  the  dead.  In  this  country  were 
found  many  elephants,  handsome  wild  oxen,  stags,  rhinoceroses,  and 
other  animals,  in  abundance*. 

Thibet  belongs  to  the  Grand  Khan,  having  been  conquered  and  de- 
vastated by  Mangu  Khan.  Tigers  have  multiplied  to  an  astonishing 
degree.  Here  are  found  the  musk  animals,  and  wild  oxen,  extremely 
large  and  fierce,  both  of  which  are  hunted  with  their  immense  dogs. 
There  are  also  laner  falcons  and  sakers,  with  which  the  natives  have 
good  sport  t. 

Tholoman  (Burmah)  is  subject  to  the  Grand  Khan.  The  people 
are  tall  and  good  looking,  their  complexions  rather  brown  than  fair. 
They  are  just  in  their  dealings  and  brave  in  war.  Many  of  their 
towns  and  castles  are  upon  lofty  mountains.  They  burn  their  dead. 
Abundance  of  gold  is  found  here.  They  use  porcelain  shells  for  the 
small  currency  J. 

Ziamba,  (by  Cochin  China,)  is  tributary  to  the  Grand  Khan.  The 
king  presents  to  his  imperial  majesty  annually  a  very  large  quantity  of 
lignum  aloes,  (highly  esteemed  as  a  perfume  for  baths  and  for  incense 
at  funerals),  together  with  twenty  of  the  largest  and  handsomest  ele- 
phants to  be  found  in  his  districts,  which  abound  with  those  ani- 
mals §. 

The  countries  between  China  and  Bengal,  (Pegu,  Siam,  Tonquin, 
&c),  where  there  are  abundance  of  elephants,  rhinoceroses,  and  other 
beasts,  were  reduced  to  the  power  of  the  Grand  Khan,  and  paid  him 
tribute  ||. 


*  M.  Polo,  pp.  447,  449.  t  M.  Polo,  p.  457. 

f  M.  Polo,  p.  412.  i  §  M.  Polo,  p.  583. 

|j  See  Marco  Polo,  B.  II.  Chapters  XLVI.  XLVII.  XLIX.  and  note  378. 


SUMATRA— RHINOCEROSES— PIGMIES. 

In  the  reduction  of  Cochin  China,  the  Grand  Khan  lost  vast  num- 
bers of  troops,  by  the  effects  of  the  climate*. 

The  Grand  Khan  lays  claim  to  the  whole  island  of  Sumatra;  Marco 
Polo  visited  six  of  the  eight  kingdoms  in  that  island ;  some  of  which 
acknowledge  the  khan's  authority.  They  have  many  wild  elephants ; 
rhinoceroses  much  inferior  in  size  to  the  elephants,  but  their  feet  are 
similar,  the  hide  resembles  that  of  a  buffalo,  and  they  have  a  single  horn ; 
and  goshawks  black  as  ravens.  They  have  certain  small  apes,  in 
their  faces  like  men,  which  they  put  in  boxes  and  preserve  with  spices. 
They  sell  them  to  merchants,  who  carry  them  through  the  world,  show- 
ing them  for  pigmies  or  little  men.  When  ships  pass  by,  the  opportu- 
nity is  taken  to  send  to  the  Grand  Khan  hawks  and  other  curious  ar- 
ticles f". 

CONQUEST  OF  MANJL 

While  Li-Tsong  had  only  the  south  provinces  of  China  under  his  A.D.  1280. 
dominion;  the  western  Tartars  possessed  the  empire  of  the  north. 
Their  king,  Kublai,  was  skilled  in  the  sciences,  and  beloved  by  his  sub- 
jects for  the  respect  he  showed  to  learned  men,  and  the  honour  he  did 
to  the  memory  of  Confucius.  Li-Tsong  dying  without  issue,  (1264), 
was  succeeded  by  Tu-Tsong,  a  profligate  and  infamous  prince.  His 
ministers  seeing  no  remedy  for  the  misfortunes  which  were  ready  to 
fall  on  the  imperial  family,  retired  to  the  western  Tartars;  whose  ar- 
my having  overrun  the  provinces  of  Yunnan,  Se-chuen  and  Shen-si, 
entered  that  of  Hu-quang,  and  most  of  the  cities  opened  their  gates ; 
while  the  wretched  Tu-Tsong,  drowned  in  pleasures,  was  stripped  of 


57 


CHAP. 
II. 


*  See  Grosier's  Description  of  China,  Vol  T.  p.  300. 
t  M.  Polo.  p.  603.  And  in  Harris's  Voyages,  p.  620. 


DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  IMPERIAL  FAMILY. 

his  dominions  by  degrees,  without  knowing  any  thing  of  the  matter. 
He  died  in  the  year  1274,  aged  twenty-five,  leaving  three  young  child- 
ren, who  were  born  to  be  the  sport  of  fortune.  Kong-Tsong,  his  se- 
cond son,  was  placed  upon  the  tottering  throne. 

The  empress,  who  governed  the  empire  for  her  son,  sent  ambassa- 
dors to  the  Tartar  sovereign,  to  demand  peace ;  offering  to  submit  to 
the  most  hard  and  abject  terms.  But  that  inexorable  monarch  replied: 
"  Your  family  owes  its  rise  to  the  monstrous  infamy  of  the  last  prince 
of  the  preceding  dynasty :  it  is  therefore  but  just  that  the  remaining 
princes  of  the  family  of  Song,  who  are  infants  also,  should  give  place 
to  another  family." 

Meantime,  Pe-Yen  advanced  with  a  numerous  army  of  Tartars, 
subduing  all  before  him.  This  general  is  highly  praised,  both  for  his 
prudence  in  conducting  two  hundred  thousand  men  with  so  much  fa- 
cility ;  and  for  his  modesty,  which  was  so  extraordinary,  that,  in  the 
midst  of  all  his  victories,  he  never  dropped  the  least  word  in  his  own 
praise.  He  took  the  emperor  prisoner,  who  died  in  the  desert  of  Kobi, 
or  Shamo,  and  was  succeeded  in  his  empire  and  misfortunes  by  his 
brother,  Twantsong,  in  the  year  1276.  The  victorious  march  of  the 
Tartar  obliged  this  emperor  to  go  on  board  of  his  fleet,  with  the  lords 
of  his  court,  and  a  body  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  soldiers 
which  remained  with  him,  designing  to  retire  to  the  province  of  Fo- 
Kyen;  but,  being  closely  pursued  by  the  Tartars,  both  by  sea  and  land, 
he  was  obliged  to  fly  to  the  coast  of  Quan-Tong,  the  most  southern 
province,  where  he  died  of  a  disease,  aged  eleven  years,  in  1278;  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Ti-ping. 

The  Chinese  fleet,  being  overtaken  by  that  of  the  Tartars,  could 
not  avoid  an  engagement,  which  was  very  bloody  and  decisive  in  favor 
of  the  Tartars.  The  prime  minister,  Lo-syew-se,  to  whose  care  the 
Emperor  had  been  entrusted,  seeing  his  ship  surrounded  by  the  Tar- 
tarian vessels,  took  the  young  prince,  who  was  but  eight  years  of  age, 


JAPAN  INVADED.— ARMY  ALL  LOST.  59 

in  his  arms,  and  threw  himself  into  the  sea.    The  rest  of  the  lords  and  CHAP, 
ministers  followed  his  example.    The  Empress,  quite  distracted,  with  v^-v-^ 
dreadful  shrieks,  also  flung  herself  into  the  ocean*.    This  terrible  ca- 
tastrophe happened  near    an  island   dependant  on  Quang-chu-fu 
(Canton). 

Another  general,  who  commanded  a  part  of  the  Chinese  fleet,  hav- 
ing forced  his  way  through  the  enemy,  and  escaped  their  fury  with 
some  of  his  vessels,  endeavoured  to  make  to  shore,  but  was  driven  off 
by  a  violent  storm  which  just  then  arose:  and  he  and  all  his  followers 
were  sunk  at  once.  It  is  affirmed,  that  above  a  hundred  thousand 
Chinese  perished  in  this  fight,  either  by  the  sword  or  the  water,  into 
which  vast  numbers  threw  themselves,  in  despair.  Thus  ended  the 
dynasty  of  the  Song,  and  with  it  the  dominion  of  the  Chinese.  Kub- 
lai  took  possession  of  his  conquest,  and  was  the  first  emperor  of  the 
dynasty  called  Ywen,  under  the  name  of  Shi-tsuf . 

The  Grand  Khan  was  excited,  by  the  reports  he  heard  of  the  wealth  a.D.  1283. 
and  greatness  of  Japan,  to  make  the  conquest  of  that  country.  An 
army  of  one  hundred  thousand  men  embarked  at  the  ports  of  Kinsai 
and  Zaitun;  and  reached  the  island.  A  storm  arising,  and  the  two 
commanders  falling  into  dissention,  the  whole  of  the  troopn  were  lost 
in  the  waves,  or  made  prisoners ;  only  three  or  four  returning  J. 

Nayan,  a  near  relation  of  the  Grand  Khan,  proprietor  of  a  consi-  A.D.  1286. 
derable  district  in  Leaotong,  becoming  very  powerful,  formed  the  de- 
sign, in  concert  with  Kaidu,  a  relation  of  both  parties,  of  usurping  the 
sovereignty.    Kublai,  on  hearing  this,  collected  the  whole  of  the 

*  It  is  said,  that  the  reigning  empress  of  the  Song  dynasty  was  treated  at  Pekin 
with  the  greatest  humanity,  where  she  died,  in  the  year  1281.  See  Marco  Polo, 
B.  II.  Ch.  LV. 

t  Du  Halde,  Vol  I.  p.  213. 

t  M.  Polo,  p.  569,  and  Du  Halde,  Vol.  I.  p.  215. 

12 


BATTLE  OF  EIGHT  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY  THOUSAND  MEN. 

troops  stationed  within  ten  days'  march  of  Pekin :  they  consisted  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  horse  :  and  one  hundred  thousand 
foot,  being  principally  his  falconers  and  domestic  servants.  In  twen- 
ty days  they  were  all  in  readiness.  Kaidu  had  promised  to  join  Na- 
yan,  with  one  hundred  thousand  horse.  Nayan's  force  consisted  o 
four  hundred  thousand  horse. 

The  Grand  Khan  proceeded  with  such  celerity,  that  in  twenty-five 
days,  by  forced  marches  day  and  night,  he  arrived  near  a  range  of 
hills,  on  the  other  side  of  which  Nayan  lay  encamped,  having  no  in- 
telligence of  the  Khan's  approach,  the  passes  having  been  secured. 
The  Emperor  allowed  his  troops  two  days'  rest.  When,  early  in  the 
morning  they  ascended  the  hills,  they  found  Nayan  negligently  posted. 
He  was  asleep  in  his  tent,  accompanied  by  one  of  his  wives.  He  now 
lamented  that  his  junction  with  Kaidu  had  not  been  effected. 

The  Grand  Khan  took  his  station  in  a  large  wooden  castle,  borne  up- 
on the  backs  of  four  elephants  *,  whose  bodies  were  protected  with 
coverings  of  thick  leather  hardened  by  fire,  over  which  were  housings 
of  cloth  of  gold.  The  castle  contained  many  cross-bow  men  and 
archers;  and  on  the  top  of  it  was  hoisted  the  imperial  standard, 
adorned  with  representations  of  the  sun  and  moon. 

A  fierce  and  bloody  conflict  was  for  a  long  time  undecided.  At 
length  Nayan,  being  nearly  surrounded,  attempted  to  escape,  but  was 
made  prisoner  and  conducted  to  the  Grand  Khan,  who  gave  orders  for 
his  being  put  to  death.  He  was  smothered  between  two  carpets  and 
shaken  till  the  spirit  had  departed  from  his  body,  in  order  that  the 
sun  and  air  should  not  witness  the  shedding  of  imperial  blood.  Those 

*  It  appears  that  it  is  an  old  custom  in  Persia,  to  use  four  elephants  a-breast. 
"  The  senate  decreed  Gordian  III.  to  represent  him  triumphing  after  the  Per- 
sian mode,  with  chariots  drawn  with  four  elephants."  Augustan  Hist.  Vol.  II. 
page  65. 


ATTEMPTS  TO  CONQUER  JAVA.  61 

of  the  troops  which  survived,  swore  allegiance  to  Kublai.    Nayan  had  CHAP, 
undergone  the  ceremony  of  baptism,  and  a  vast  number  of  Christians  -^-v«»w 
were  among  the  slain*.    This  battle  was  fought  about  half  way  be- 
tween Pekin  and  Siberia.    The  Emperor,  after  the  battle,  retired  to 
Shangtu. 

Timur  Kaan,  grandson  of  Kublai,  viceroy  of  Yunan,  Bangalla,  and  A.  D.  1289. 
the  countries  called  India  beyond  the  Ganges,  was  occupied  with  the 
great  war  against  Kaidu,  on  the  river  Irtish f. 

The  Grand  Khan  failed  in  his  attempts  on  Java.  "  Java,"  says  Maun 
devile,  "  is  nearly  two  thousand  miles  in  circuit ;  the  king  is  rich  and 
mighty.  He  hath  under  him  seven  other  isles  about  him.  Spices  are 
more  plentiful  here  than  in  any  other  country;  ginger,  cloves,  canelle, 
zedewalle,  nutmegs,  and  mace ;  and  know  well,  that  the  nutmegs  bear 
the  mace :  for,  as  the  nut  of  the  hazel  hath  a  husk,  so  it  is  with  the  nut- 
meg and  mace.  All  things  are  in  plenty,  save  wine.  The  palace  is  mar- 
vellous and  rich ;  the  chambers  and  halls  are  square,  and  the  walls  are 
covered  with  plates  of  gold  and  silver,  with  stories  of  battles  of 
knights  enleved,  (the  glossary  says,  this  means  inlaid,  but  perhaps  it 
should  be  in  relief  ;  the  crowns  and  circles  about  their  heads,  are  of 
precious  stones  and  pearls.  No  one  would  believe  the  riches  of  the 
palace  who  had  not  seen  it.  And  know  well,  that  the  king  of  this  isle 
is  so  mighty,  that  he  hath  many  times  overcome  the  Great  Khan  of  Ca- 
thay in  battle,  who  is  the  greatest  Emperor  under  the  firmament ;  for 
they  have  often  been  at  war,  because  the  Great  Khan  would  con- 
strain him  to  hold  his  land  of  him ;  but  the  king  hath  at  all  times  de- 
fended himself  well  against  him  \. 

*  M.  Polo,  p.  268,  where  there  is  a  description  of  the  battle, 
t  For  the  invasion  of  Siberia,  see  Chap.  V. 

%  Voyage  and  Travaile  of  Sir  John  Maundevile,  Knt.  from  the  year  1322,  to 
1356.    This  account  seems  to  decide,  that  it  was  Java,  and  not  Borneo,  as  has 


62 


DEATH  OF  KUBLAI.— HIS  FAMILY.— BEAUTIFUL  CONCUBINES. 


CHAP.       The  Emperor  Kublai  died,  aged  eighty.    He  had  four  wives  of  the 

^-^■^j  first  rank,  by  whom  he  had  twenty  sons.  Genghis,  who  was  the  eld- 
D  1294. 

'  est,  and  was  to  inherit  the  empire,  having  died,  his  son,  Timur  Kaan, 
succeeded  to  the  vast  dominions  of  his  grandfather.  Seven  of  the  le- 
gitimate sons  were  placed  at  the  head  of  extensive  kingdoms  and 
provinces.  His  Majesty  had  twenty-five  sons  by  his  concubines,  all  of 
whom  were  placed  in  the  rank  of  nobles,  and  employed  in  the  military 
profession. 


The  Empresses  had  separate  courts.  None  of  them  fewer  than 
three  hundred  female  attendants  of  great  beauty,  with  a  multitude  of 
ladies  of  the  bed  chamber;  youths  as  pages,  and  other  eunuchs;  so 
that  the  number  of  persons  attached  to  their  respective  courts, 
amounted  to  ten  thousand. 

His  Majesty's  concubines  are  from  a  province  named  Ungut*,  dis- 
tinguished for  perfumes  and  the  beauty  of  the  inhabitants  f.  Every 
year  four  or  five  hundred  of  the  handsomest  young  women  are  select- 
ed ;  and  the  khan  makes  choice  of  thirty  or  forty  of  those  who  are 
most  perfect  in  symmetry  of  person,  the  most  beautiful  in  features, 
hair,  countenance,  eyebrows,  &c.  The  remainder  are  instructed  in 
cookery,  dress-making,  and  other  suitable  works.    The  Grand  Khan 

been  supposed  by  Purchas  and  others,  which  Kublai  and  his  successors  attempt- 
ed to  conquer.  Mr.  Marsden  inclines  to  think  Marco  Polo  was  not  in  error  when 
he  says,  "  the  Grand  Khan  failed  in  his  attempt  on  Java"  See  M.  Polo,  B.  III. 
Ch.  VII.  Is  not  this  strong  proof  of  the  correctness  of  Polo  ;  and  of  the  truth  of 
some  parts  of  the  Englishman's  book  ? 

*  Supposed  to  be  Ighoors,  or  Yugures.  M.  Polo,  note  527.  See  Sir  William 
Jones,  Vol.  1.  p.  53. 

f  Khoten  is  in  these  parts.  "  When  thy  charming  letter  was  brought  to  me, 
I  said,  '  Is  it  the  zephyr  that  breathes  from  the  gardens,  or  is  it  the  sky  burning 
wood  of  aloes  on  the  censer  of  the  sun?  or  is  it  a  caravan  of  musk  coming  from 
Khoten?'"  From  a  Persian  poet.  Sir  William  Jones,  Vol.  V.  p.  578.  The  Asia- 
tics perfume  their  letters,  and  send  them  in  bags  of  satin  or  damask. 


EXTENT  OF  THE  MONGOL  CONQUESTS. 

bestows  them  in  marriage  on  the  nobility,  with  handsome  portions. 
The  fathers  of  these  children  feel  gratified  at  the  khan's  condescend- 
ing to  make  choice  of  their  daughters  for  himself;  or  matching  them 
more  nobly  than  they  themselves  have  the  power  to  do  *. 

EXTENT  AND  GRANDEUR  OF  THE  MONGOL 
EMPIRE. 

The  empire  attained  its  greatest  extent  at  about  the  period  of  the 
completion  of  the  conquest  of  China,  in  1280.  There  were  under  that 
division  of  the  empire,  governed  by  the  Grand  Khan  and  his  viceroys, 
the  whole  of  China  —  All  India  eastward  of  the  Burhampooter  f — 
Thibet — TangutJ — Mantchu  Tartary — Corea  —  and  all  the  eastern 
division  of  Siberia,  to  the  Straits  of  Anian,  (now  Behring's),  and  to  the 
Arctic  Sea. 

Seven  sons  of  Kublai,  and  other  viceroys  governed,  each,  extensive 
regions.  The  account  of  the  subordinate  governments  is  extremely 
defective.  Marco  Polo  was  governor  of  Yan-gui,  a  large  city,  and  its 
dependencies,  for  three  years. 

Kaidu,  (now  in  rebellion),  nephew  of  Kublai,  possessed,  as  viceroy, 
the  countries  around  Almaligh  and  the  central  regions  of  Siberia,  to 
the  Northern  Ocean. 

Sheibani,  or  his  descendants,  reigned  at  Sibir,  over  the  western  di- 
vision of  Siberia.    Sheibani  was  the  cousin  of  Kublai. 

Capschac  was  governed  by  a  descendant  of  Batou.    This  division 

*  M.  Polo,  B.  II.  Ch.  IV.  and  V. 

t  See  De  Guines,  Vol.  I.  p.  173,  and  Vol.  IV.  p.  193. 

$  Tangut  and  Thibet  are  supposed  to  be  the  same,  by  some  authors :  the  ex- 
act geography  of  these  immense  regions  is  but  imperfectly  known  even  now. 


63 


CHAP. 
II. 


EXTENT  OF  THE  MONGOL  CONQUESTS. 

now  contained  the  Crimea,  the  countries  north  of  the  Caspian  and 
Lake  Aral ;  northward,  by  the  Volga,  up  to  the  Arctic  Ocean ;  west- 
ward, to  the  Tanais  or  Don ;  Southward,  to  Caucasus :  all  Russia  be- 
ing tributary. 

Zagatai's  descendants  reigned  over  Transoxiana  or  Maverulnere, 
the  country  of  the  Yugures  or  Igors,  Cashgar,  Badachshan,  and 
Balk. 

Abaca  Khan,  son  of  Hulacou,  mounted  the  throne  of  Persia  by  or- 
der of  his  uncle  the  Grand  Khan  Kublai.  Hulacou  with  three  hun- 
dred thousand  troops  had  taken  Bagdat,  and  put  an  end  to  the  Califs 
of  the  race  of  Abbas*.  The  territories  under  Abaca  comprised  Per- 
sia to  the  Indus,  Syria,  Mesopotamia,  Chaldea,  and  Anatolia f. 

The  death  of  Kublai  weakened  rapidly  the  allegiance  of  these  mo- 
narchs  to  his  successors. 

Hindostan  was  then  too  powerful  to  be  subdued.  Formidable  at- 
tempts had  been  made,  but  had  failed.  While  Hulacou  was  preparing 
an  immense  army,  (with  which  he  took  Bagdat),  he  sent  an  ambassa- 
dor to  Delhi.  The  Emperor  Balin  sent  out  the  vizier  to  give  him  a 
distinguished  reception,  with  fifty  thousand  foreign  cavalry,  two  hun- 
dred thousand  infantry  in  arms,  two  thousand  chain  elephants  of  war, 
and  three  thousand  carriages  of  combustibles,  or  fireworks  J.  The 

*  When  Bagdat  fell  to  the  great  army  of  Hulacou,  Mustasim  Billah  was  calif. 
He  had  hoarded  immense  treasures :  Hulacou  ordered  that  he  should  be  shut  up 
in  his  treasury  in  the  midst  of  his  riches ;  and  where,  by  an  ironical  refinement  of 
cruelty,  he  was  starved  to  death.  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  I.  p.  185.  The  East  India 
trade  had  enriched  Bagdat,  through  Bussorah,  which  was  founded  by  the  Calif 
Omar,  and  became  a  place  of  trade  hardly  inferior  to  Alexandria.  Robertson  on 
India,  p.  93. 

t  Petis  de  la  Croix  p.  402.    See  also  Mezeray,  A.  D.  1249. 
t  This  took  place  the  year  after  Kublai  became  Grand  Khan.    Hulacou  was 
his  brother. 


THE  WISE  GOVERNMENT. 

ambassador  was  conducted  to  the  palace.  The  court  was  magnificent 
and  gorgeous.  All  the  omrahs,  judges,  priests,  and  great  men,  were 
present;  besides  five  princes  of  Persian  Irac,  Chorassan,  and  Maverul- 
nere,  who  had  taken  refuge  from  the  arms  of  the  Mongols  *. 

With  the  exceptions  of  Hindostan  and  Arabia,  the  continent  of  Asia 
and  part  of  Europe  were  under  the  domination  of  the  Grand  Khan. 
"  Kublai,  says  Gaubil,  was  now  master  of  China,  Pegu,  Thibet,  Great 
and  Little  Tartary,  Turkestan,  and  the  country  of  the  Jgours ;  Siam, 
Cochin  China,  Tonquin,  and  the  Corea,  paid  him  tribute.  The  princes 
of  the  blood  of  Genghis,  who  reigned  in  Muscovy,  Assyria,  Persia, 
Korassan,  and  Transoxiana,  did  nothing  without  his  consentf  ". 

"  Kublai,  at  his  coming  to  the  crown  of  China,  made  no  change 
in  the  ministers  or  in  the  laws  and  customs.  He  won  his  subjects  so 
much  by  his  sincere  conduct,  his  equity,  the  protection  he  gave  to  men 
of  letters,  and  by  his  tender  affection  for  his  people,  that,  even  at  pre- 
sent, the  administration  of  this  Tartar  family  is  called  the  wise  govern- 
ment %. 

The  army  and  establishment  of  vessels  for  the  conveyance  of  sol- 
diers, were  limited  only  by  the  necessity  that  required  them.  Ships 
with  four  masts  were  built  so  large  as  to  employ  a  crew  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men,  and  to  carry  stores  and  provisions  for  two  years  §. 
These  were  for  a  voyage  to  Persia.  Five  thousand  vessels  are  some- 
times seen  in  one  port,  from  two  hundred  to  five  hundred  tons  bur- 
then || .  Kublai  had  an  extraordinary  passion  to  make  himself  known 
to  foreign  kings,  to  engage  them  to  send  him  all  kinds  of  rarities.  In 

*  Dow's  Hindostan,  Vol.  I.  p.  190. 
t  Note  378  in  Marco  Polo. 

*  Du  Halde,  Vol.  I.  p.  215. 
§  M.  Polo,  p.  29. 

||  M.  Polo,  B.  II.  Ch.  LXIII.  and  the  notes  from  various  authorities. 


66 


99  SHIPS  FROM  CEYLON,  BENGAL,  &e.  ARRIVE  IN  FOKIEN. 


CHAP.  September,  1286,  advice  was  received  from  the  Mandarins  of  Fokien, 
y-w  that  ships  from  ninety-nine foreign  kingdoms  were  arrived  at  Twen-chu- 
fu  in  that  province.  These  kingdoms  are  treated  as  tributary,  but  only 
eight  are  mentioned  in  history,  and  under  names  unknown  to  Euro- 
peans. Those  spoken  of  here  are,  Malacca,  Sumatra,  Pen-ko-la  or 
Bengal,  and  from  Cape  Comorin  to  the  Persian  Gulf,  Ceylon  *,  Tingor, 
Sanem-Soumenatf. 

The  current  money  of  the  Emperor  is  made  of  the  bark  of  the  mul- 
berry tree,  reduced  to  a  pulp,  made  hard,  black,  and  stamped.  To 
counterfeit  or  refuse  it  is  death.  Foreigners  receive  it  for  their  mer- 
chandise, and  pay  it  for  their  purchases  in  the  khan's  empire.  It  is 
exchanged  if  worn  or  damaged ;  and  bullion  for  manufactures  is  given 
for  it  at  the  mint.  It  may  therefore  be  affirmed  that  no  monarch  has 
so  extensive  a  command  of  treasure  as  the  Grand  Khan  J. 

No  Emperor  or  human  being  is  equal  to  Kublai  Khan,  for  the  con- 
venience and  facility  of  his  posting  establishment:  it  is  scarcely  possi- 
ble to  describe  it.  Two  hundred  thousand  horses  and  ten  thousand 
buildings,  with  suitable  furniture,  are  kept  up.  There  are  foot  post- 
men at  every  three  miles ;  so  that  fruit  gathered  at  Pekin  is  received 
at  Shangtu  the  evening  of  the  next  day ;  which  by  the  ordinary  mode 
would  require  ten  days.  The  horsemen  ride  two  hundred,  and  some- 
times two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  a  day,  on  rebellions  or  other  ur- 
gent occasions  §. 

*  Sender-naz,  King  of  Ceylon,  being  reported  to  possess  a  ruby,  brilliant  beyond 
description,  a  span  in  length,  and  as  thick  as  a  man's  arm ;  the  Grand  Khan  Kub- 
lai sent  ambassadors  with  a  request  that  the  king  would  yield  him  the  ruby,  for 
which  the  khan  would  pay  the  value  of  a  city.  The  king's  answer  was,  that,  being 
a  jewel  handed  down  to  him  by  his  predecessors,  he  would  not  sell  it  for  all  the 
treasures  in  the  universe.  M.  Polo,  B.  III.  Ch.  XIX.  in  note  1251,  it  is  conjectur- 
ed that  it  may  have  been  a  lump  of  coloured  crystal. 

t  Modern  Univ.  Hist.  Vol.  II.  p.  387.  M.  Polo,  note  1206. 

t  M.  Polo,  p.  353. 

§  M.  Polo,  B.  II.  Ch.  XX.  where  there  is  a  long  description  of  the  establishment. 


PAPER  MONEY.— POSTING  ESTABLISHMENT.— MONGOL  BOOKS. 


6 


In  the  month  of  January,  1290,  Kublai  sent  mathematicians,  (of  CHAP, 
which  he  had  numbers  from  the  west  as  well  as  those  of  China),  tolati-  ^-*~v~*«- 
tude  55°  north  and  to  15°  south,  in  Cochin  China,  to  observe  the  lati- 
tudes of  the  principal  cities  in  Tartary.  China,  Corea,  and  other 
places  *.    Many  astronomical  instruments  were  made  on  a  large  scale, 
and  at  immense  cost:  there  was  a  gnomon  of  forty  feetf. 

Rare  books  were  sought  for  in  foreign  countries;  all  good  books 
that  could  be  procured  were  translated  into  the  Mongol  language,  and 
extensive  libraries  were  formed  f . 

When  Kublai  had  overthrown  Nayan,  understanding  that  the 
Christians  observed  their  yearly  solemnity  of  Easter,  he  caused  them 
all  to  come  unto  him,  and  bring  the  book  of  the  four  gospels,  which 
he  incensed  often  with  great  ceremonies,  devoutly  kissing  it,  and  cau- 
sed the  barons  to  do  the  like.  And  this  he  observeth  always  at  Christ- 
mas and  Easter.  The  like  he  did  in  the  chief  feasts  of  the  Saracens, 
Jews,  and  Idolaters;  because,  as  he  said — "Those  four  prophets  were 
reverenced  of  all  the  world — Jesus,  Mahomet,  Moses,  and  Sagomam- 
barlan  §,  the  first  Idol  of  the  Pagans :  and  I,  (saith  he),  do  honour  to 
them  all,  and  pray  him  which  is  the  greatest  in  Heaven  and  truest,  to 

*  In  1278  Co-cheou-king  found  the  obliquity  of  the  ecliptic  to  be    23  32  12 


1290  Choja  Nassir-oddin   23  30  0 

1463  Ulug  Beg,  great  grandson  of  Tamerlane   23  30  17 

1525  Copernicus   23  28  24 

1627  Kepler   23  30  30 

1800  Mr.  Pond,  (Vid.  Rees's  Cyc.  "Ecliptic")    23  27  56.5 

t  Hist,  des  Huns,  Vol  III.  B.  XVI. 


$  Modern  Univ.  Hist.  Vol.  II.  p  390.  With  respect  to  the  illiterateness  of  the 
Mongols  themselves  before  their  conquests,  the  curious  reader  is  referred  to  Sir 
W.  Jones's  fifth  discourse  on  the  Tartars,  in  his  first  volume,  page  51. 

§  Polo,  p.  274.  Mr  Marsden,  note  512,  supposes  this  to  be  one  of  the  names  of 
Budda,  who  is  called  also  Fo  and  Somonacodom.  Kublai  sacrificed  to  Fo ;  and 
was  attached  to  the  Lamas  of  Tibet  and  the  Bonzas  of  China;  which  drew  on  him 
the  censures  of  the  followers  of  Confucius. 

K  2 


68 


KUBLAI'S  RESPECT  FOR  CHRISTIANITY. 


CHAP,    help  me."    Yet  he  had  the  best  opinion  of  the  Christian  faith,  because 
^-^^j  it  contained  nothing  but  goodness:  and  he  would  not  suffer  the  Christ- 
ians to  carry  before  them  the  cross,  on  which  so  great  a  man  as  Christ 
was  crucified  *. 


Kublai  being  informed  that  the  barks  which  brought  to  court  the 
tribute  of  the  southern  provinces,  or  carried  on  the  trade  of  the  empire 
by  sea,  often  suffered  shipwreck,  he  caused  the  great  canal  to  be  made ; 
it  is  three  hundred  leagues  in  length.  Above  nine  thousand  imperial 
barks  transport,  with  ease  and  at  a  small  expense,  the  tribute  of  grain, 
stuffs,  &c.  which  is  annually  paid  to  the  Emperor.  Had  this  been  the 
only  advantage  this  prince  procured  for  China,  he  would  have  been 
worthy  of  the  high  praises  which  the  Chinese  give  himf . 

On  the  commencement  of  the  year,  which  is  the  first  of  February, 
the  Grand  Khan  and  all  his  subjects  clothe  themselves  in  white.  All 
the  landholders  send  valuable  presents  of  gold,  silver,  precious  stones, 
and  white  cloth;  great  numbers  of  beautiful  white  horses  are  present- 
ed on  this  occasion.  If  the  present  be  from  a  province,  nine  times 
nine  of  horses,  gold,  &c.  are  presented.  Thus,  at  this  festival,  a  hun- 
dred thousand  horses  are  received.  All  the  Grand  Khan's  elephants, 
of  which  he  has  five  thousand,  are  exhibited  in  procession,  covered  with 
housings  of  cloth,  fancifully  and  richly  worked  with  gold  and  silk  in 
figures  of  birds  and  beasts.  Each  of  these  supports,  upon  its  should- 
ers, two  coffers  filled  with  vessels  of  plate  and  other  apparatus  for  the 
use  of  the  court.  Then  follows  a  train  of  camels  laden  with  furniture. 
The  whole  passes  in  review  before  the  Emperor.  On  this  occasion  a 
tamed  lion  is  conducted  into  the  presence  of  his  Majesty,  which  is 
taught  to  lay  itself  down  at  his  feet. 

At  Shangtu,  or  Cayandu,  the  khan  hath  an  admirable  summer  pa- 


*  Purchas,  Vol  I.  p.  417. 
•]-  Du  Halde,  Vol  I.  p.  215. 


SUMMER  PALACE,  PARK,  AND  PAVILION.  69 

lace  and  a  noble  park,  sixteen  miles  in  circuit ;  where  he  rides  about,  CHAP. 

r  II. 
and  enjoys  hunting  and  hawking.     Small  leopards  are  carried  on  v^-^^*^ 

horseback  behind  their  keepers ;  and  the  Emperor,  when  he  pleases, 

commands  them  to  be  slipped  at  stags,  fallow-deer,  or  goats;  which  he 

gives  to  his  hawks.    There  is  here  a  beautiful  grove  of  trees  and  a 

royal  pavilion*. 


POMP  AND  SPLENDOUR  OF  THE  COURT. 

"  The  Grand  Khan  hath  many  solemn  feasts  every  year ;  at  each 
of  which  there  are  great  multitudes  of  people,  well  arrayed  by  thou- 
sands, hundreds,  and  tens. 

First,  there  are  four  thousand  barons,  mighty  and  rich,  to  govern 
the  feasts  and  serve  the  Emperor.  They  are  held  in  halls  and  tents 
made  of  cloth-of-gold,  and  of  tartaries  full  nobly.  All  the  barons 
wear  golden  crowns  richly  adorned  with  precious  stones  and  orient 
pearls ;  and  are  clothed  in  dresses  of  gold,  so  perfectly  that  no  man 
can  amend  it,  all  dubbed  with  pearls  and  gems.  These  barons  are  di- 
vided into  four  companies;  each  thousand  being  dressed  in  one  colour. 
The  first  thousand  in  gold  and  green,  the  second  in  gold  and  red,  the 
third  in  purple,  the  fourth  in  yellow.  They  walk  two  and  two  full  or- 
derly, without  saying  a  word,  only  by  inclining  towards  the  Emperor  ; 
each  bearing  a  tablet  of  jasper,  crystal,  or  ivory;  preceded  by  minstrels, 
sounding  their  instruments  of  divers  melody ;  thus  passes  each  thou- 

*  Marco  Polo,  p.  250,  and  B.  II.  Ch  XII.  where  these  feasts  are  described.  Sir 
John  Maundevile's  descriptions  will  be  given  in  this  Vol.  — perhaps  about  forty 
years  afterwards.  Both  Polo's  and  Maundevile's  accounts  are  strongly  corroborat- 
ted  by  Grosier,  (See  his  Hist.  Vol.  IF.  p.  106),  who  lived  many  years  in  China. 


SOLEMN  AND  MAGNIFICENT  BANQUET. 

sand.  On  one  side  of  the  Emperor's  table  sit  the  philosphers  in  astro- 
nomy, necromancy,  geomancy,  pyromancy,  hydromancy,  and  augury. 
Every  one  hath  before  him  golden  astrolabes,  spheres,  skulls,  vessels 
of  gold  full  of  gravel,  sand,  burning  coals,  water,  oil  or  wine;  and 
some,  noble  clocks.  Then  the  officers  order  silence.  Another  saith, 
'  Every  man  do  reverence  to  the  Emperor,  who  is  God's  son,  and  so- 
vereign lord  of  the  world:'  and  they  all  bow  down  to  the  earth.  When 
they  rise,  another  saith — '  Put  your  little  finger  in  your  ears.'  Another 
saith: — 'Put  your  hands  before  your  mouth.'  Another — 'Put  your 
hand  upon  your  head.'  I  asked  the  meaning  of  all  this,  and  one  of 
the  masters  told  me,  they  were  the  tokens  of  fidelity  to  the  Em- 
peror— that  no  one  would  betray  him  for  gifts,  nor  keep  secret  any 
mischief  intended  him,  though  it  were  by  his  own  father,  brother,  or 
son.  The  Emperor  doth  nothing  without  the  counsel  of  the  philoso- 
phers. Again  the  minstrels  do  their  minstrelsy,  with  all  the  melody 
they  can  devise.  Then  all  the  lords  of  the  imperial  blood,  richly  ap- 
parelled, on  white  steeds,  make  their  presents  to  the  Emperor  of  white 
horses,  each  after  the  other.  Then  the  barons  present  jewels  and 
other  things  according  to  their  means.  Then  the  religious  men  and 
lawyers ;  each  presents  something.  Then  the  most  dignified  prelate 
giveth  his  blessing  and  saith  an  orison.  Then  the  minstrels  do  their 
craft.  Afterwards  they  bring  before  the  Emperor,  lions,  leopards  and 
other  beasts ;  eagles,  vultures,  fowls,  fish,  and  serpents.  The  jugglers 
and  enchanters  follow.  They  make  to  appear  in  the  air,  to  every  one's 
seeing,  the  sun  and  the  moon ;  they  then  make  it  quite  dark,  and  af- 
terwards a  bright  sunshine.  Next  appear  the  fairest  damsels  in  the 
world,  richly  arrayed,  who  dance.  Then  others  with  milk  of  divers 
beasts  in  golden  cups,  which  they  hand  to  the  lords  and  ladies.  Then 
knights  in  arms  joust  full  lustily  and  fiercely;  and  break  their  spears 


MINSTRELS. — GAME  KEEPERS. 

and  truncheons  into  splinters,  which  fly  about  the  hall :  they  then  hunt 
the  hart  and  the  boar  with  hounds  running  open  mouthed. 

This  great  Khan  hath,  altogether,  a  hundred  and  thirty  thousand 
minstrels.  They  are  nurtured  by  all  the  kings  and  lords  under  him ; 
and  this  is  the  reason  he  hath  so  great  a  multitude.  He  hath  certain 
men  to  keep  the  ostriches,  ger-falcons,  sparrow-hawks,  gentil-falcons, 
and  others;  well-speaking  popinjays,  and  singing  birds.  He  hath 
wild  beasts,  such  as  tame  and  other  elephants,  baboons,  apes,  marmo- 
sets, and  divers  others ;  all  of  which  are  maintained  by  a  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  keepers  *. 

He  hath  two  hundred  Christian  physicians ;  and  of  Christian  leech- 
es, two  hundred  and  ten,  and  twenty  Saracen.  His  common  house- 
hold is  without  number. 

The  Khan's  money  is  made  of  all  values,  of  leather  or  paper,  which 
is  changed  when  much  worn,  and  therefore  he  may  expend  outrage- 
ously. Of  his  gold  and  silver  he  maketh  the  ceilings,  pillars,  and 
floors  of  his  palaces,  and  other  things  f." 

"  The  Emperor  dwells  in  summer  at  Saduz,  towards  the  north,  and 
cold  enough ;  in  winter,  at  Cambalech ;  but  his  chief  residence  is  in 
Caydou  or  in  Jong,  where  it  is  temperate. 

When  his  Majesty  removeth  from  one  country  to  another,  he  goeth 
in  the  midst  of  four  hosts  innumerable ;  he  keeping  at  a  moderate  dis- 
tance. He  wears  a  plain  dress  and  has  few  attendants,  that  he  may  not 
easily  be  known.  Or  else  he  rides  in  a  chariot  with  four  wheels,  upon 
which  is  a  fair  chamber  of  sweet  smelling  lignum  aloes;  which  is  with- 
in covered  with  plates  of  fine  gold,  dubbed  with  precious  stones  and 

*  Whatever  the  exact  numbers  were,  they  must  have  been  immense,  by  the  ac- 
counts of  Shah-Rohk's  ambassadors,  Marco  Polo  and  others  so  nearly  agreeing, 
t  Sir  John  Maundevile,  p.  278. 


CHARIOTS  DRAWN  BY  ELEPHANTS. 

great  pearls.  The  chariot  is  drawn  by  four  elephants  and  four  great 
destreres,  all  white  and  covered  with  rich  housings*.  A  few  of  the 
greatest  lords  ride  about  this  chariot,  full-richly  and  nobly  arrayed. 
Above  the  chamber  of  the  chariot,  four  or  six  ger-falcons  are  perched; 
which,  when  the  Emperor  sees  any  wild  fowl,  are  let  fly  to  amuse  his 
Majesty  with  the  sport.  No  one  but  those  lords  dares  approach  with- 
in bow-shot  of  the  chariot. 

Another  chariot,  ordained  and  arrayed  in  the  same  manner,  goes  on 
another  side,  at  a  distance,  with  the  Empresses.  The  eldest  son  rides 
in  another,  just  the  same,  on  another  road.  No  man  would  believe 
the  multitude  which  follows,  who  had  not  seen  it.  Sometimes  the 
Emperor  sends  for  the  Empresses  and  his  children  to  accompany  him, 
when  the  journey  is  to  be  short. 

The  Great  Khan's  empire  is  divided  into  twelve  kingdoms ;  each 
principal  king  having  other  kings  under  diim,  all  being  obedient  to  the 
Great  Khan. 

The  Emperor's  despatches  are  conveyed  by  dromedaries  and  horses, 
from  one  post  house  to  another,  with  great  swiftness;  the  arriving 
courier's  bells  being  heard,  another  is  ready  at  the  instant;  they  are 
clept  Chijdido,  after  their  language. 

When  the  Emperor  passes  through  cities,  every  man  maketh  a 
fire  before  his  door,  strewing  upon  it  sweet  gums;  and  all  people 
kneel  down.  Where  there  are  Christians,  as  there  are  in  many  cities, 
they  go  before  him  in  procession,  with  the  cross  and  holy  water,  sing- 
ing Veni  Creator,  Spiritus,  with  a  high  voice.    He  commandeth  his 

*  A  note  says,  Dextrarii.  Dromedayrs.  See  Chenier's  Morocco,  Vol.  I.  p.  339, 
where  it  is  said,  that  "  Muley  Ishmael  had  two  snow-white  dromedaries,  which 
were  daily  washed  with  soap."  In  Siberia  there  are  also  white  camels.  Shaw's 
Zoology,  Vol.  II.  P.  II.  p.  240. 


THE  GREAT  KHAN'S  RESPECT  FOR  THE  CROSS. 


73 


lords  to  ride  beside  him,  and  that  the  religious  men  may  approach.  CHAP. 

When  they  are  nigh  with  the  cross,  then  he  doth  a-down  his  galaothe,  ^^^m^. 

which  he  wears  upon  his  head  in  the  manner  of  a  chaplet,  made  of 

gold  and  jewels,  and  prized  at  the  value  of  a  kingdom.    Then  he  kneel- 

eth  to  the  cross.    Then  the  prelate  of  the  religious  men  saith  before 

him  certain  orisons,  and  giveth  him  a  blessing  full  devoutly.  Then 

the  prelate  giveth  him  fruit,  to  the  number  of  nine,  in  a  silver  platter, 

pears,  apples,  and  other  kinds,  and  he  taketh  one ;  and  then  they  give 

to  the  lords.    No  one  can  approach  the  Emperor  without  observing 

the  old  law,  that  saith — Nemo  accedat  in  conspectu  meo  vacuus.  Then 

the  Emperor  desires  the  religious  men  to  withdraw  carefully,  that 

they  may  meet  with  no  hurt  from  the  vast  multitude  of  horses  which 

follow.    They  then  present  fruit  in  the  same  manner  to  the  Empresses 

and  the  eldest  son,  as  they  pass. 

After  the  Empresses  and  the  sons  have  returned  to  their  separate 
households,  with  their  hosts,  there  always  remain  with  his  Majesty 
fifty  thousand  men  at  horse,  and  two  hundred  thousand  foot,  without 
counting  minstrels,  and  those  who  keep  the  wild  beasts  and  birds. 

Under  the  firmament  is  not  a  lord  so  mighty  and  so  rich  as  the 
Great  Khan,  he  surpasseth  all  earthly  princes,  wherefore  it  is  great 
harm  that  he  believeth  not  faithfully  in  God.  No  man  is  required 
to  hold  any  law,  other  than  he  liketh.  They  call  the  God  of  nature 
Yroga,  and  offer  him  horses  and  beasts.  They  worship  the  sun  and 
moon. 

Every  one  hath  his  house,  both  man  and  woman,  made  round  of 
staves,  with  a  round  window  above  for  light  and  smoke ;  the  walls  and 
doors  of  wood;  when  they  go  to  war,  they  take  their  houses  upon 
chariots,  and  have  multitudes  of  all  manner  of  beasts  except  swine 


MANNERS. — CUSTOMS. — LAWS. — FOOD. 

They  hold  it  a  great  sin  to  smite  a  horse  with  the  handle  of  a  whip 
or  with  a  bridle,  to  break  one  bone  with  another,  or  to  slay  chil- 
dren. *  *  *  Whoever  maketh  water  in  his  house  shall  surely  be  slain. 

*  *  *  When  they  commit  sin,  they  must  be  shriven  of  their  priests; 
and  pay  a  great  sum  of  silver  for  their  penance,  and  pass  through  fire. 

*  *  *  If  any  man  be  taken  in  adultery  or  fornication,  anon  they  slay 
him.  *  *  *  The  men  and  women  are  all  right  good  archers,  both  on 
foot  and  at  speed  on  horseback.  *  *  *  The  women  make  clothes, 
boots,  houses,  ploughs,  chariots,  and  other  things.  The  men  make 
bows,  arrows,  and  armour.  The  women  wear  breeches  as  well  as  the 
men.  *  *  *  They  are  all  obedient  to  the  Khan.  *  *  *  They  fight  not 
nor  chide  with  one  another.  *  *  *  There  are  no  thefts  nor  robberies 
in  the  country.  *  *  *  They  all  worship  each  other,  but  do  no  rever- 
ence to  strangers,  except  they  be  great  princes.  *  *  * 

They  eat  hounds,  lions,  lyberdes,  mares,  foals,  asses,  rats,  mice,  and 
all  beasts,  great  and  small,  except  swine.  *  *  *  They  eat  little  bread 
except  at  the  court  of  great  lords.  They  have  generally  neither  peas, 
nor  beans,  nor  potages,  but  make  broth  of  flesh.  Only  the  great 
lords  have  towels  to  wipe  their  hands.  They  live  full  wretchedly; 
and  eat  but  once  a  day,  and  that  even  at  courts.  *  *  * 

All  their  lust  and  imagination,  is  to  put  all  lands  under  their  subjec- 
tion. When  before  a  walled  town,  they  promise  to  the  besieged  all 
they  can  ask;  and  when  they  yield,  they  slay  them  and  souce  their  ears 
in  vinegar,  and,  thereof,  thei  maken  gret  servyse for  lordesf."  "  When 
I  was  there,  the  Emperor's  name  was  Thiaut  Khan,  and  his  eldest 
son's  TossueJ;  who  when  he  becomes  Emperor  will  add  Khan;  be- 
sides whom,  the  Emperor  had  twelve  sons.    He  had  three  Empresses. 

f  Sir  John  Maundevile,  p.  278  to  308. 

%  The  Chinese  History  does  not  give  the  Tartar  names.  Shun-ti  reigned  from 
1337  to  1369.    Kublai's  Chinese  name  was  Shi-tsu.    Du  Halde. 


SHANG-TU.— PALACE— COURT.— THRONE. 


75 


The  Tartars  have  made  a  city  called  Caydon,  (Shangtu),  it  hath  CHAP, 
twelve  gates,  and  is  twenty  miles  round.  Here  is  the  residence  of  the  'v.*^^. 
Great  Khan,  whose  palace  is  two  miles  in  circuit,  with  many  other 
palaces.  In  the  garden  of  the  royal  palace  there  is  a  great  hill,  upon 
which  there  is  another  palace,  the  most  fair  and  rich  that  any  man 
may  devise ;  and  all  about  the  palace  and  hill  are  many  trees  and  di- 
vers fruits,  and  great  and  deep  ditches,  with  wild  geese,  swans,  and  he- 
rons without  number.  The  large  garden  is  full  of  wild  beasts,  so  that 
the  Emperor  can  see  them  chased  from  his  window. 

The  hall  has  twenty-four  pillars  of  gold,  and  is  lined  with  red  sweet- 
smelling  panther  skins,  of  the  most  brilliant  colour,  and  more  valuable 
than  gold.  In  the  midst  is  a  Mountour  for  the  Great  Khan,  wrought 
of  gold,  pearls  and  gems,  with  serpents  of  gold  at  the  four  corners;  all 
encircled  by  nets  of  silk  and  gold  The  Emperor's  throne  is  of  fine 
precious  stones,  bordered  with  pearls,  gold,  and  gems.  The  steps  are 
of  gold  inlaid  with  precious  stones.  On  the  left  is  a  lower  jasper  seat 
set  with  gems,  for  the  Empress ;  another  lower,  similar,  for  the  second 
wife;  and  a  still  lower  for  the  third  wife ;  for  he  always  has  three  wives 
with  him.  On  the  right,  on  a  seat  below  that  of  the  Emperor,  sits  his 
eldest  son  and  heir.  The  lords  sit  on  the  right,  the  court  ladies  on  the 
left.  The  Emperor  sits  alone  at  a  table  made  of  crystal,  lignum  aloes, 
ivory,  gold,  amethysts,  and  other  gems.  The  Empresses,  the  prince, 
and  great  lords,  have  each  a  separate  table ;  every  table  worth  a  huge 
treasure.  Under  the  Emperor's  table  are  four  secretaries  to  write  his 
words,  for  he  must  never  revoke  them.  At  solemn  feasts  men  bring  be- 
fore the  Emperor  great  tables  of  gold,  whereon  are  golden  peacocks 
and  other  birds  richly  enamelled,  which  sing  and  clap  their  wings, 
whether  by  necromancy  I  wot  not ;  but  it  is  a  fair  sight  to  behold.  In 
subtilty  they  pass  all  men  under  heaven.  I  tried  to  learn  this  craft, 
but  the  master  told  me  he  had  made  a  vow  to  God,  to  teach  it  only  to 


L  2 


KUBLAI'S  PALACE,  NEAR  PEKIN. 

his  son.  There  is  a  vine  which  spreads  all  about  the  hall,  made  all  na- 
turally in  colours,  with  every  kind  of  precious  gem.  All  the  drinking 
vessels  are  set  with  jewels  and  are  all  of  gold ;  silver  they  make  no 
price  of  except  for  pillars  and  pavements.  The  hall  door  is  guarded 
by  many  barons  all  completely  armed.  My  fellows  and  I,  with  our 
yeomen,  served  this  Emperor  as  soldiers  for  fifteen  months  against 
the  king  of  Mancy,  having  desire  to  see  all  his  governance.  We 
found  it  more  rich  and  marvellous  than  we  had  heard  of.  He  who 
will  may  believe  me  or  not,  for  no  man,  nor  I  myself,  till  I  saw  it, 
would  believe  it*."  (Marco  Polo,  p.  251,  mentions  that  Kublai  had 
a  stud  at  Shangtu  of  ten  thousand  horses  and  mares,  as  white  as  snow). 

*        *        *  * 

"  The  palace  of  the  Grand  Khan  Kublai,  near  Pekin,  is  the  most  ex- 
tensive that  has  ever  been  known :  (this  astonishing  palace  is  described 
at  great  length):  not  far  from  the  outside  wall,  which  is  a  square  of  eight 
miles  on  each  side,  is  an  artificial  mount  of  earth,  full  a  hundred  paces 
high,  and  a  mile  in  circuit  at  the  base :  it  is  planted  with  the  most  beauti- 
ful ever-green  trees;  which,  however  large  and  heavy  they  may  be,  are 
dug  up  with  the  roots  and  earth  about  them,  and  are  brought  from  the 
most  distant  countries  upon  the  backs  of  elephants  f . 

*  Sir  John  Maundevile,  Ch.  XX.  to  XXIII.  The  reader  is  referred  to  the 
embassy  from  Shah  Rohk  in  Ch.  IV.  and  to  the  accounts  given  by  Bell  and 
others,  which  confirm  Maundevile  and  Marco  Polo  in  most  particulars  ;  although 
an  Emperor  of  China  is,  compared  with  a  Grand  Khan,  a  very  insignificant  per- 
sonage. See  also  Grosier's  descriptions,  which  are  very  similar. 

t  In  1720  the  Emperor  Kam-hi  or  Kang-hi,  sixty-eight  years  of  age,  and  in 
the  sixtieth  of  his  reign,  gave  a  hunting  entertainment  in  this  park  to  Ismailof, 
the  Russian  ambassador  from  the  Czar  Peter.  "  We  continued  the  sport  till  four 
o'clock,  when  we  came  to  a  high  artificial  mount,  on  the  top  of  which  were  ten  or 


TIGERS. — GREEN  MOUNTAIN. 


77 


On  the  mount  there  is  an  ornamented  pavilion  entirely  green.  CHAP. 
Within  the  park  are  various  wild  beasts,  swans  and  other  aquatic  birds,  ^^-v^ 
To  this  place,  which  is  called  the  Green  Mountain,  the  Grand  Khan 
often  retires  to  treat  of  the  affairs  of  the  empire*." 

twelve  tent  s  for  the  imperial  family.  The  emperor  from  this  viewed  all  the  tents 
in  the  plain  and  a  great  way  into  the  forest.  After  dinner  the  Emperor  sent  to 
compliment  the  ambassador  and  inform  him,  that  he  had  kept  three  tigers,  which 
should  be  baited,  for  his  entertainment.  The  hill  was  surrounded  by  several 
ranks  of  guards  armed  with  spears;  and  a  guard  was  placed  before  the  ambassa- 
dor's and  other  tents,  to  secure  the  encampment  from  the  fury  of  these  fierce 
beasts.  The  first  tiger  was  let  out  of  his  cage  by  a  man  upon  a  fleet  horse,  who 
opened  the  door  by  means  of  a  rope.  He  rode  off.  The  tiger  came  out,  and  de- 
lighted with  his  liberty  began  rolling  himself  upon  the  grass  :  he  then  rose,  growl- 
ed, and  walked  about.  The  Emperor  fired  bullets  with  his  matchlock  at  him 
twice,  with  good  aim,  but  he  was  too  distant.  His  Majesty  sent  to  the  ambassa- 
dor to  try  his  gun :  he  walked  towards  the  animal,  accompanied  by  ten  men  armed 
with  spears,  and,  at  a  convenient  distance,  shot  the  tiger  dead.  The  second  was 
let  out  in  the  same  manner,  and  rolled  upon  the  grass  like  the  first.  The  man 
shot  at  him  with  a  blunt  arrow,  to  rouse  him ;  when  he  furiously  pursued  the 
horseman,  who  narrowly  escaped  within  the  ranks ;  and  the  tiger,  endeavouring  to 
leap  over  the  men's  heads,  was  killed  at  the  foot  of  the  mount.  The  third,  as 
soon  as  he  was  set  at  liberty,  made  towards  the  Emperor's  tent,  and  was,  in  like 
manner,  killed  with  the  spears.  The  Emperor  was,  in  his  youth,  fond  of  hunting 
these  creatures  in  the  woods  of  Tartary,  but  now  confines  himself  within  this 
forest,  where  there  is  game  enough  to  gratify  any  sportsman :  it  is  of  great  extent, 
and  all  enclosed  within  a  high  wall  of  brick :  after  travelling  about  as  much  as 
fifteen  miles,  I  saw  no  end  of  it.  Besides  tigers,  we  saw  panthers,  leopards,  linxes, 
boars,  deer,  hares,  partridges,  quails,  pheasants,  &c.  We  all  formed  a  semicir- 
cle, in  the  centre  of  which  was  the  Emperor,  with  eight  or  ten  of  his  sons  and 
grandsons  on  his  left,  and  the  ambassador  on  his  right,  about  fifty  paces  distant. 
Close  by  him  were  the  master  of  the  chase  with  grey  hounds,  and  the  grand  fal- 
coner with  hawks :  many  of  these  beautiful  birds  were  as  white  as  doves,  having 
one  or  two  black  feathers  in  their  wings  or  tails.  They  are  brought  from  Siberia, 
or  places  north  of  the  river  Amoor :  they  generally  raked  the  pheasants  while 
flying,  but  if  they  took  to  the  reeds  or  bushes  they  soon  caught  them."  (Bell, 
Ch.  XI.) 

*  Marco  Polo,  B.  II.  Ch.  VI.  De  Guines,  Vol.  III.  p.  148. 


TRAVELLING  UPON  ELEPHANTS. 


MAGNIFICENT  HUNTING  EXPEDITIONS. 

When  Kublai  has  resided  the  usual  time  in  the  metropolis,  in  March 
he  proceeds,  in  a  north-east  direction,  to  within  two  days  journey  of 
the  ocean*;  attended  by  full  ten  thousand  falconers,  who  carry  a  vast 
number  of  ger-falcons,  peregrine  falcons,  and  sakers,  to  pursue  the  game 
along  the  banks  of  the  rivers.  The  falconers  are  divided  into  parties, 
and  follow  the  game  in  various  directions. 

There  are  about  ten  thousand  men  to  seek  and  mark  the  haunts  of 
the  game.  Every  bird  belonging  to  the  Emperor  or  the  nobles,  has 
a  small  silver  label  fastened  to  its  leg,  with  the  name  of  the  owner  en- 
graved upon  it.  On  account  of  the  narrowness  of  the  passes  in  some 
parts  of  the  country  where  the  Grand  Khan  pursues  the  chase,  he  is 
borne  upon  two  elephants  only;  sometimes  on  a  single  one:  but  other- 
wise, he  makes  use  of  four,  upon  the  backs  of  which  is  placed  a  pavi- 
lion of  wood  handsomely  carved ;  the  inside  being  lined  with  cloth  of 
gold,  and  the  outside  covered  with  the  skins  of  tigers:  a  mode  of 
conveyance  rendered  necessary,  in  consequence  of  his  Majesty  being 
troubled  with  the  gout 

In  the  pavilion  there  are  always  twelve  of  the  best  ger-falcons,  and 
his  Majesty  has  twelve  of  the  officers  of  the  court  to  bear  him  com- 
pany. 

*  Kang-hi,  in  1682,  proceeded  to  Eastern  Tartary,  a  thousand  miles  to  the 
north-east,  probably  to  near  the  same  place.  Sixty  tigers,  besides  bears,  stags, 
and  bares,  in  vast  numbers,  were  killed.  He  had  his  court  with  him,  and  more 
than  seventy  thousand  persons  in  his  retinue.    Du  Halde,  Vol.  II.  p.  269. 


TENTS  COVERED  WITH  TIGER-SKINS. — GAME  LAWS.  79 

When  cranes  or  other  birds  are  perceived,  his  Majesty  orders  the  CHAP, 
ger-falcons  to  be  let  fly ;  and,  after  a  struggle,  they  overpower  the  ^s^L^ 
game;  which  the  Grand  Khan,  as  he  lies  upon  his  couch,  views  with 
extreme  satisfaction. 

The  tent  of  his  Majesty  is  so  large,  that  ten  thousand  soldiers  might 
be  drawn  up  under  it,  without  incommoding  the  nobles  in  the  halls 
and  chambers,  at  the  audience.  Near  to  the  Emperor's  tent,  are  those 
of  his  ladies,  who  have  their  ger-falcons,  hawks,  birds,  and  beasts. — 
The  outsides  of  the  tents  are  covered  with  skins  of  tigers,  joined  so 
well  as  to  keep  out  the  wind  and  rain :  within,  they  are  lined  with  the 
richest  ermines,  sables,  and  other  furs;  the  tent  ropes  are  of  silk. 
There  are  more  than  ten  thousand  tents  for  the  Emperor's  sons,  the 
nobles,  life  guards,  and  the  falconers.  His  Majesty  takes  his  whole 
family  and  household,  physicians,  astronomers,  &c.  So  great  is  the 
assemblage,  that  it  is  quite  incredible;  and  a  spectator  might  conceive 
himself  to  be  in  a  populous  city. 

By  the  lakes,  storks,  swans,  herons,  and  a  variety  of  birds  are  taken. 
The  excellence  and  extent  of  the  sport  is  so  great  as  not  to  be  ex- 
pressed: and  the  Emperor  enjoys  himself  to  a  degree  that  no  person, 
who  is  not  an  eye  witness,  can  conceive. 

No  prince,  or  other  person,  is  permitted  to  kill  hares,  roebucks,  fal- 
low deer,  stags,  or  any  beasts  of  that  kind,  for  the  six  months  from 
March  to  October, 

The  Emperor  returns  by  the  same  road,  continuing  the  sport  during 
the  whole  journey  *. 

At  the  city  of  Changanor,  or  the  white  lake,  the  Khan  has  a  palace 
which  he  is  fond  of  visiting.  There  are  there  great  numbers  of  phea- 
sants and  partridges ;  cranes  of  five  sorts,  the  first  as  black  as  crows, 


Marco  Polo,  Book  II.  Ch.  XVI. 


TIGERS  AND  EAGLES  FOR  SEIZING  GAME. 

with  long  wings ;  the  second  white,  the  feathers  of  the  wings  full  of  eyes 
like  the  peacock's,  of  a  gold  colour,  very  bright,  the  head  red  and  black, 
the  neck  black  and  white,  and  longer  wings  than  the  first ;  the  third 
are  the  size  of  the  Italian ;  the  fourth  small,  streaked  with  red  and 
azure;  the  fifth  large,  grey,  with  the  head  red  and  black.  There  is 
a  valley  near  the  city,  which  is  much  frequented  by  partridges  and 
quails.  The  Grand  Khan  orders  millet,  panicum,  and  other  grain,  to 
be  sown  along  the  sides  of  the  valley,  every  season,  with  strict  com- 
mands, that  no  person  shall  dare  to  reap  the  seed.  His  Majesty  al- 
ways finds  abundant  sport  in  this  country.  In  winter,  when,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  severity  of  the  cold,  he  does  not  reside  there,  camel 
loads  of  birds  are  sent  to  the  court,  wherever  it  may  be  *.  At  Pekin 
there  is  a  market  for  frozen  provisions. 

The  Grand  Khan  keeps  leopards  and  lynxes  f,  for  the  chasing  of 
deer ;  and  also  tigers  for  seizing  boars,  wild  oxen  and  asses,  bears, 
stags,  and  other  beasts.  The  tigers  are  conveyed  in  cages  placed  up- 
on cars,  and  a  little  dog  is  confined  with  them,  with  which  they  be- 
come familiarized,  and  their  fury  is  thereby  abated,  They  are  led  op- 
posite the  wind,  in  order  that  the  game  may  not  scent  them.  It  is  an 
admirable  sight  when  the  tiger  is  let  loose  in  pursuit  of  the  animal,  to 
observe  the  savage  eagerness  and  speed  with  which  he  overtakes  it. 
His  Majesty  has  eagles  also,  which  are  trained  to  stoop  at  wolves; 
they  are  of  great  size  and  strength:  no  wolf  however  large  can  escape 
their  talons  J.    Wild  horses  are  taken  by  the  Tartars,  by  the  use  of 

*  Marco  Polo,  p.  248.  Some  of  the  birds  described  are  probably  herons  or 
storks.    Note  461. 

t  The  Emperor  Akbar,  on  his  hunting  expeditions,  was  accompanied  by  a  thou- 
sand of  these  animals.    Ayeen  Akbari,  Vol.  I.  p.  240. 

+  M.  Polo,  p.  338,  and  note  638.  The  eagle  the  Tartars  use,  is  the  karakush, 
or  aquila  mcevia.    Strahlenberg,  p.  360 


GREAT  HUNTING  ESTABLISHMENT. 

hawks  trained  to  that  purpose.  They  seize  on  the  neck  of  the  horse, 
beat  him  and  tire  him  by  his  chafing,  so  that  he  becomes  an  easy  prey 
to  the  master  of  the  bird,  who  rides  with  his  bow,  arrow,  and  sword*. 

The  Emperor  has  in  his  service  two  brothers  named  Bayan  and 
Mingan,  who  are  masters  of  the  chase;  having  charge  of  the  hounds, 
fleet  and  slow,  and  of  the  mastiffs.  Each  of  the  brothers  has  under 
his  orders  ten  thousand  chasseurs;  the  ten  thousand  under  one  bro- 
ther wearing  a  red  uniform,  and  the  others  a  sky  blue,  when  on  duty. 
The  dogs  of  different  descriptions  which  accompany  them  to  the  field 
are  not  fewer  than  five  thousand.  The  one  brother  takes  his  ground 
to  the  right,  and  the  other  to  the  left  of  the  Emperor.  They  advance 
in  regular  order,  till  they  have  enclosed  a  tract  of  country  to  the  extent 
of  a  day's  march.  It  is  a  beautiful  and  an  exhilirating  sight  to  watch 
the  exertions  of  the  huntsmen,  and  the  sagacity  of  the  dogs,  when  the 
Emperor  is  within  the  circle  engaged  in  the  sport,  and  they  are  seen 
pursuing  the  stags,  bears,  and  other  animals  in  every  direction.  The 
brothers  are  under  an  engagement  to  furnish  the  court  daily  for  six 
months,  from  October  to  March,  with  a  thousand  head  of  game,  quails 
being  excepted  f. 

*        *         *  * 


FAILURE  OF  ATTEMPTS  TO  CONQUER  HINDOSTAN. 

The  princes  who  had  been  overthrown  by  Genghis  Khan,  his  sons 
and  grandsons,  sought  refuge  in  Hindostan,  which  was  under  the  Pa- 
tan  or  Afghan  Emperors.  In  the  thirteenth  century  many  attempts 
were  made  to  subdue  Hindostan,  but  they  all  failed. 


*  Purchas,  Vol.  I.  p.  480.  \  M.  Polo,  B.  II.  Ch.  XV. 

M 


82  ATTEMPTS  TO  CONQUER  HINDOSTAN. 

CHAP.       An  army  of  Mongol  Tartars  made  an  incursion  into  Bengal  by  way 

^-T*y  '  of  Chitta  and  Thibet.    They  were  defeated  and  driven  back  by  a  large 

A.D.  1242.  J  ° 

army  *. 

A.D.  1243.  The  Mongols  crossed  the  Indus  and  invested  Outch.  MasaoodlV. 
headed  his  troops  and  marched  against  them.    They  retreated. 

A.D.  1265.  The  Emperor  of  Hindostan,  Balin,  was  so  famous  for  generosity, 
that  all  the  princes  vanquished  by  the  Mongols,  sought  his  protection: 
there  came  upwards  of  twenty  of  these  unfortunate  sovereigns  from 
Turquestan,  Maver-ul-nere,  Chorassan,  Persian  Irac,  Azerbijan,  Per- 
sia Proper,  Asia  Minor,  and  Syria.  They  had  a  princely  allowance, 
and  palaces  for  their  residence  allotted  them.  Balin's  court  was  ex- 
tremely magnificent.  In  the  retinue  of  these  princes  were  the  most 
famous  men  for  learning,  war,  arts  and  sciences,  that  Asia  produced. 
Philosophers,  poets  and  divines  formed  a  society  every  night  in  the 
house  of  the  heir  apparent  to  the  empire.    The  horse-guards  in  the 

*  Chitta  has  not  been  found  on  any  map.  The  writer's  conjecture  is,  that  this 
invasion  may  have  been  by  the  passes  of  Dellamcotta  and  Coos  Behar;  for  we 
find  that,  in  the  year  1773,  "  the  British  troops  and  the  Bootaners  first  met,  and 
nothing  could  exceed  their  mutual  surprize :  (a  disputed  succession  of  a  Rajah 
at  Coos  Behar,  had  caused  one  party  to  apply  for  support  to  the  British ;  the  other 
to  the  Bootan  government).  The  Bootaners,  who  had  never  met  any  but  naked 
and  timid  Hindoos,  saw  for  the  first  time  a  body  of  men  clothed,  armed,  moving  in 
regular  order,  and  led  on  by  men  of  complexion,  dress,  and  features,  such  as  they 
had  never  beheld.  The  artillery,  and  incessant  fire  of  the  musketry,  astonished 
them  beyond  any  idea  which  they  could  have  conceived.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
British  troops  found  themselves  on  a  sudden  engaged  with  a  race  of  men  unlike 
all  their  former  opponents  in  India,  uncouth  in  their  appearance,  and  fierce  in 
their  assault,  wrapped  up  in  furs,  and  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  and  other 
weapons  peculiar  to  them.  The  place  was  carried,  and  many  arms  and  other 
things  taken;  images  in  clay,  in  gold,  in  silver,  and  in  enamel  were  sent  to  Calcut- 
ta, all  which  appeared  perfectly  Tartar.  The  fame  of  our  exploits  in  the  war 
reached  the  court  of  Thibet,  and  awakened  the  attention  of  the  Tayshoo  Lama." 
Letter  from  John  Stewart,  Esq.  F.  R.  S.  to  Sir  John  Pringle,  Bt.  P.  R.  S.  Uni- 
versal Magazine,  June,  1778. 


REFUGE  FOR  THE  VANQUISHED  SOVEREIGNS. 


83 


cavalcade  of  the  Emperor  consisted  of  a  thousand  noble  Tartars,  upon  CHAP, 
the  finest  Persian  steeds,  in  splendid  armour,  with  richly  embroidered  \**~y^s 
saddles,  and  bridles  of  silver.    The  state  elephants  were  caparisoned 
in  purple  and  gold;  and  the  train  was  not  less  than  a  hundred  thou- 
sand men. 

The  Moguls  invade  Hindostan  with  twenty  thousand  horse,  but  are  A.D.  1283. 
repulsed  from  Lahore. 

Another  invasion  is  frustrated.  A.D.  1286. 

The  King  of  Persia,  in  subordination  to  his  cousin,  Kublai,  the  A.D.  1291. 
Emperor  of  Tartary,  invaded  Hindostan  with  ten  tomans  (one  hun- 
dred thousand)  of  Moguls.  Ferose  II.  moved  forward  to  oppose 
him.  Both  armies  encamped  for  five  days  on  the  sides  of  a  stream 
on  the  frontiers  of  Biram,  and  their  advanced  posts  skirmished.  On 
the  sixth  morning,  they  fought  upon  a  plain.  The  Moguls  were  de- 
feated, many  chiefs  killed,  and  a  thousand  men  taken  prisoners,  be- 
sides two  omrahs,  and  several  officers  of  rank.  The  Emperor  was 
afraid  to  pursue  his  victory,  and  offered  them  peace,  on  condition  of 
evacuating  his  dominions.  They  gladly  accepted  the  terms,  and  pre- 
sents were  exchanged.  When  they  were  retreating,  Allagu,  a  grand- 
son of  Genghis,  joined  Ferose  with  three  thousand  men.  They  all  be- 
came mussulmans,  and  their  chief  was  honoured  with  one  of  Ferose's 
daughters  in  marriage. 

Advices  came  to  Delhi,  that  Dova,  King  of  Maver-ul-nere,  had  sent  A.D.  1296. 
an  army  of  a  hundred  thousand  Moguls  to  conquer  Punjab,  Moultan, 
and  the  provinces  near  the  mouth  of  the  Indus.  Alia  I.  sent  his  brother 
Elich  with  a  great  force  to  expel  them.  The  Moguls  were  defeated 
with  the  loss  of  twelve  thousand  men,  and  many  great  officers. 
Numbers  of  prisoners  of  all  ranks  were  taken;  and  some  days  after- 
wards put  to  the  sword,  not  sparing  the  women  and  children,  who  had 
been  taken  in  the  Mogul  camp. 


M2 


84  2700  ELEPHANTS.— INGRATITUDE  OF  ALLA  I. 

CHAP.  Cuttulich,  the  son  of  Dova,  king  of  Maver-ul-nere,  with  two  hun- 
^*^y— dred  thousand  Mongols,,  proceeded  towards  Delhi  without  opposition. 

'  The  whole  country  had  crowded  into  that  city.  Alia  I.  marched  out, 
at  the  Budaoon  gate,  with  three  hundred  thousand  horse,  two  thousand 
seven  hundred  elephants,  and  foot  without  number,  With  the  choic- 
est elephants  a  tremendous  line  was  formed  in  front  of  Alias  army. 
Ziffer  commanded  the  right  wing,  and,  by  his  impetuous  and  judicious 
conduct,  the  Moguls  were  defeated.  He  was  at  one  time  surrounded ; 
the  enemy  admired  his  extraordinary  bravery,  and  called  out  to  him  to 
submit  :  he  refused,  and  was  cut  to  pieces  with  his  friends  who  were 
around  him.    The  Moguls  retreated. 

Alia  esteemed  the  death  of  Ziffer  a  second  victory,  and  expressed 
his  satisfaction  thereat:  so  great  was  his  jealousy  and  so  base  his  in- 
gratitude. 

3j£  ^  ^ 

Many  other  invasions  were  repelled,  till  Tamerlane  vanquished 
Mahmoud,  in  1398 ;  when  most  of  the  provinces  declared  themselves 
independent.  In  1525,  the  Mogul,  Baber,  mounted  the  throne  at 
Delhi;  and  thus  ended  the  line  of  Patan,  Afghan,  or  Ghiznian  so- 
vereigns f. 

*        *        *  * 

A.D,  1369.  There  were  nine  Grand  Khans,  or  Emperors,  of  the  Mongol  dynas- 
ty, on  the  throne  of  China.  Shun-ti,  the  last,  reigned  thirty-five  years. 
He  was  effeminate  and  indolent :  his  love  of  pleasure  made  him  wholly 
neglect  the  affairs  of  state.  He  sent  for  the  Lamas  from  Tartary ;  who 
introduced  their  idolatry:  and,  to  indulge  his  vicious  inclinations, 


t  See  Dow's  Hindostan,  Vol.1,  p.  179,  &c. 


EXPULSION  OF  THE  MONGOLS  FROM  CHINA.  85 

placed  a  company  of  young  female  dancers  in  the  palace,  who  entirely  CHAP, 
enervated  the  little  courage  that  remained  in  him.    By  this  conduct  W*y-W- 
a  rebellion  was  excited,  and  headed  by  a  Chinese  named  Chu,  who  had 
been  a  servant  in  a  monastery  of  Bonzas. 

He  gained  many  advantages  over  the  Mongols.  Shun-ti  abandoned 
Pekin,  on  the  27th  of  August,  1369,  with  his  family  and  his  army:  he 
was  pursued  and  driven  towards  the  north. 

In  two  years,  the  last  of  the  Ywen  dynasty  in  China  died  of  grief 
for  the  loss  of  his  empire*. 

*  Du  Halde,  Vol.  II.  p.  217.    De  Guines.    No  particulars  of  the  battles,  or  of 
the  retreats,  have  been  met  with. 


86 


CHAPTER  III. 

Of  the  Employment  of  Elephants  from  the  earliest  times  in  China 

 Persia  Turan  Scythia  Turquestan  Gazna 

 Thibet  -Assam;  from  which  Countries  they  may  have 

been  introduced  into  Siberia. 

All  these  countries  were  subject  to  the  Grand  Khans,  in  the  thir- 
teenth and  fourteenth  centuries. 

CHINA. 

About  eleven  hundred  years  before  the  Christian  era,  the  metropolis 
of  the  Emperor  Vu  Vang,  was  Singan,  the  capital  of  Shensi,  the  western 
Chinese  province,  and  contiguous  to  the  territories  of  Assam*.  Both 
the  country  and  the  metropolis  were  called  Chin.  A  king  of  this  terri- 
tory, which  was  gradually  extended  to  the  east  and  west,  (and  therefore 
comprised  Assam,  a  region  where  elephants  are  exceedingly  abundant ; 
so  much  so,  that  most  persons  keep  one  to  carry  their  wives,  and  one 
is  buried  in  the  tombs  of  the  chiefs),  makes  a  figure  in  the  Shahna- 
mah,  among  the  allies  of  Afrasiab,  mounted  on  a  white  elephant  f. 
This  is,  possibly,  the  first  mention,  in  history,  of  elephants  being  used 
in  warfare  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Siberia;  it  may  be  the  same  histo- 
ry as  the  following : 

*  Meer  Jumla,  in  the  reign  of  Aurungzeb,  invaded  Assam,  to  lat.  35° .  Dow, 
Vol.  III.  p.  357. 

t  Du  Halde,  Vol.  I.  p.  158.    Sir  W.  Jones,  VII.  Disc.  Vol.  I.  p.  101. 


OGUZ  KHAN. — CHINESE  WALL. 

"  The  joy  of  Afrasiab  at  these  successes  knew  no  bounds;  he  re-  CHAP 
solved  on  an  attack  of  the  main  body  of  the  Persians,  which  was  com-  v^-.^, 
manded  by  Kai  Khoosroo*  and  Roostum;  who,  on  their  part,  adopted 
every  means  they  could  to  repair  their  misfortune.  Toos  was  releas- 
ed from  his  confinement;  and  sent,  at  the  head  of  a  fresh  army,  to 
meet  Peeran-Wisa,  with  whom  he  had  an  action  which  lasted  seven 
days ;  but,  terminating  unfavourably,  he  was  forced  to  retreat  to  the 
mountains  of  Hamavi,  where  his  force  was  surrounded  and  in  great 
danger,  until  relieved  by  Roostum;  who,  after  a  number  of  single  com- 
bats, in  all  of  which  he  was  successful,  obtained  a  great  victory  and 
made  prisoner  the  Emperor  of  China,  one  of  Afrasiab's  chief  allies. 
This  monarch  is  represented  as  riding  on  a  white  elephant.  The  Chi- 
nese army  dispersed,  and  Roostum  immediately  marched  in  person  af- 
ter Afrasiab,  who  fled  to  his  capital;  the  conquest  of  which  was  only 
retarded  for  a  short  time  by  the  arrival  of  Pouladwund,  the  chief  of 
Khoten,  who  fought  with  great  valour,  and  discomfited  several  of  the 
most  renowned  of  the  Persians;  but  was  at  last  overthrown  by  Roos- 
tum. Afrasiab,  destitute  of  all  resource  and  support,  fled  from  his  ter- 
ritories; which  were  divided  by  Roostum  among  the  leaders  of  the 
Persian  armyf .  Before  Alexander  the  Great,  Transoxiana  was  in- 
habited by  a  nation  known  by  the  generic  names  of  Getse  and  Massa- 
getae.    Afrasiab  was  probably  monarch,  of  these  tribes  %.n 

*         *         *•  * 

*  "  Caikhosrau  is,  without  fear  of  contradiction,  the  Cyrus  of  Xenoplion,  and 
the  hero  of  the  oldest  political  and  moral  romance."  Sir  W.  Jones,  Vol.  I.  p.  75. 
It  is  impossible  to  reconcile  dates  and  events.  Different  histories  agree  in  the 
facts.  Sir  William  Jones,  Vol.  V.  p.  591,  supposes  that  Afrasiab  may  have  been 
a  common  name  for  the  kings  of  Asiatic  Tartary. 

t  Cyrus  replied — "  My  paternal  kingdom  reaches  northward  to  those  parts 
which  are  not  habitable,  through  cold."    Xen.  Exp.  of  Cyr.  p.  82. 

t  Sir  John  Malcolm's  History  of  Persia,  Vol  I.  pp.  46  and  124.    There  having 


CHINESE  TROOPS  AT  CASHGAR. 

Among  the  Armenian  nobles,  there  appeared,  as  an  ally,  Mamgo,  who 
was  a  Scythian,  and  the  horde  which  acknowledged  his  authority  had  en- 
camped a  very  few  years  before  on  the  skirts  of  the  Chinese  empire,  (at 
the  latter  part  of  the  third  century),  which  at  that  time  extended  as  far 
as  Sogdiana.  Mamgo,  with  his  followers,  having  quarrelled  with  Tir- 
dates,  retired  to  the  bank  of  the  Oxus,  and  implored  the  protection  of  Sa- 
por. The  Emperor  of  China  claimed  the  fugitive,  and  alleged  the 
rights  of  sovereignty.  Vou-ti,  the  first  Emperor  of  the  seventh  dy- 
nasty, called  Tsin,  who  then  reigned  in  China,  had  political  transac- 
tions with  Fergana,  a  province  of  Sogdiana,  and  is  said  to  have  re- 
ceived a  Roman  embassy.  In  those  ages,  the  Chinese  kept  a  garrison 
at  Cashgar;  and  one  of  their  generals,  about  the  time  of  Trajan, 
marched  as  far  as  the  Caspian  Seaf. 

#         *         *  * 

In  the  seventh  century  before  Christ,  Ogus  Khan,  (whose  residence 
in  summer  was  about  the  mountains  of  Ulug-tag  and  Kitzig-tag,  in  Si- 
beria, and  in  winter,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  to  the  north  of  the 
river  Sirr),  conquered  Kitai,  Tangut,  and  a  people  between  Kitai 
and  the  Indies,  who  are  as  black  as  Indians;  and,  drawing  to  the 
south,  towards  the  sea  coast,  among  the  mountains,  he  was  checked 
by  a  brave  and  warlike  people  J.  Cabul,  Cashmere,  and  a  great  num- 
ber of  other  countries,  were  subdued  by  Ogus,  whose  conquests 
were  nearly  as  extensive  as  those  of  Genghis;  and  whose  name  is 

been  more  than  one  monarch  of  the  name  of  Afrasiab,  and  also  of  Rustoom,agreat 
confusion  and  obscurity  in  the  Persian,  Indian,  and  Greek  chronology,  has  been 
created,  as  will  appear  in  this  chapter, 
t  Gibbon,  Chap.  XIII.  note  59. 

X  AbulGhazi,  Vol.  I.  p.  }  5.    The  black  people  correspond  precisely  with  the 


OGUS  KHAN.— CHINESE  WALL.— EASTERN  BENGAL.  89 

as  familar  in  the  east,  as  that  of  Caesar  in  the  west.    Ulug-tag,  the  CHAP. 

III. 

residence  of  Ogus,  is  between  the  sources  of  the  rivers  Tobol  and  •^f^r~^j 
Ischim,  in  Siberia  f. 

*  *         *  * 

In  the  year  221  B.  C.  that  vastest  monument  of  human  labour,  the 
Chinese  wall,  was  built,  to  keep  out  the  Tartars.  *  *  *  In  the  year  117 
B.  C.  Vu-ti  gained  four  great  victories  over  the  Tartars  of  the  north 
west  (of  China),  and  drove  them  so  far  into  their  deserts  that  they 
durst  not  again  appear  for  more  than  1 200  years.  Vu-ti  carried  his 
victorious  arms  into  the  kingdoms  of  Pegu,  Siam,  Cambodia,  and  Ben- 
gal, he  built  several  cities  there,  and  divided  those  countries  amongst 
the  generals  who  had  conquered  them.  These  Chinese  soon  contract- 
ed the  manners  and  inclinations  of  the  Tartars,  and  proved  in  time  the 
greatest  enemies  of  their  mother  country  J. 

*  *         *  * 

"  The  first  civil  country  eastward  is  that  of  the  Seres,  (Soli,  Cap. 

Assamese.  A  note  says,  the  others  are,  undoubtedly,  the  countries  of  Tunquin 
and  Cochin  China.  But  they  are  more  probably  Ava,  Pegu,  Aracan,  &c.  The 
brave  and  warlike  people  appear  to  be  the  Burmans  and  Peguans. 

f  There  is  much  confusion  about  the  period  of  Ogus.  Strahlenberg,  p.  46,  sup- 
poses him  to  have  flourished  eighty  years  before  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  and  that 
he  might  be  the  Madyas  of  Herodotus,  who,  in  a  great  battle,  gained  the  empire 
of  Asia  from  the  Medes.  See  Herodotus,  Clio,  Ch.  CIV.  See  the  Translator's 
Preface  to  Abul  Ghazi;  and  Sir  W.  Jones's  Fifth  Discourse.  The  Persians  are 
extremely  ignorant  of  their  early  history ;  the  probability  is,  that  Ogus  flourished 
in  the  seventh  or  eighth  century  before  the  Christian  era. 

$  Du  Halde,  Vol.  I.  pp.  20,  172,  177.  Vol.  II.  p.  255.  This  Bengal  is  probab- 
ly the  eastern  or  lesser  Bangalla,  a  description  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  se- 
venth Chapter  of  these  Researches. 

N 


90  COUNCIL  OF  CHINA.— NUMEROUS  ELEPHANTS. 

C?U P  kill.)  the  quietest  and  mildest  of  men,  fleeing  the  commerce  of 
— y-*w-/  other  nations,  bartering  yet  with  such  as  resort  to  them.  None 
knoweth  sacrifices,  but  every  one  is  judge  to  himself  of  that  which  is 
right.  They  tell,  that  the  commonwealth  is  governed  by  a  council 
of  five  thousand,  every  one  of  whom  findeth  an  elephant  to  the  com- 
monwealth. (Jo.  Boem,  Lib.  II.  Ch.  9.  Strabo,  Lib.  XV.)  The 
chief  city,  by  Ptolemy,  is  placed  in  177°  15'  and  38°  36'  *.  This  re- 
gion he  limiteth  on  the  west  with  Scythia  extra  Imaum;  on  the  east 
with  terra  incognita,  and  likewise  on  the  north,  (here  some  place 
the  promontory  Tabin,  there  the  Eastern  Ocean) ;  on  the  south,  with 
part  of  India  extra  Gangem:  our  silks  have  the  name  of  this  region. 
The  Seres  are  supposed  to  inhabit  the  country  now  called  Cathay,  which 
name  Niger  deriveth  from  a  Scythian  nation  called  Chatcej'. 

*        *        *  * 

In  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries  of  the  Christian  era,  the 
Mongol  Grand  Khans  who  resided  at  Pekin,  and  the  viceroys  their 
relations  in  Shensi,  Yunan,  &c.  possessed  many  thousands  of  elephants: 
those  animals  being  a  considerable  part  of  the  war  establishment. — 
Since  that  period,  elephants  appear  to  have  been  kept  for  parade,  hunt- 
ing, and  as  beasts  of  burthen.  "  Ships,  on  the  Kiang-keou,  are  drawn 
by  elephants  to  Quinsay  J." 


*  It  is  well  known,  that  a  true  knowledge  of  the  longitudes  has  not  very  long 
been  ascertained.    Pekin  is  only  134°  from  Ferro. 
f  Purchas,  Vol.  T.  p.  399. 
t  VincentleBlanc,p.  103. 


TRIBUTE  OF  ELEPHANTS  FROM  MALACCA,  PEGU,  AND  SIAM. 

Emanuel  Carvalius  was  at  Cambalu,  (Pekin),  in  the  year  1598, 
when  the  Emperor  had  four  hundred  elephants,  which  were  brought 
from  Malacca  and  Pegu  f. 

*  *        *  * 

When  Mr.  Bell  was  at  Pekin,  he  says  J — "  After  dinner  we  saw  the 
huge  elephants  richly  caparisoned  in  gold  and  silver  stuffs.  Each 
had  a  driver.  We  stood  about  an  hour  admiring  these  sagacious  ani 
mals,  who,  passing  before  us  at  equal  distances,  returned  again  behind 
the  stables,  and  so  on,  round  and  round,  till  there  seemed  to  be  no 
end  of  the  procession.  The  plot,  however,  was  discovered  by  the 
features  and  dress  of  the  riders :  the  chief  keeper  told  us  there  were 
only  sixty  of  them.  The  Emperor  keeps  them  only  for  show,  and 
makes  no  use  of  them,  at  least  in  these  northern  parts.  Some  of 
them  knelt  and  made  obeisance  to  us ;  others  sucked  up  water  from 
vessels,  and  spouted  it  through  their  trunks  among  the  mob,  or  wher- 
ever the  rider  directed." 

*  *         *  * 

"  The  Emperor's  life  guards  were  clothed  in  red  calico,  printed 
with  red  figures,  and  wore  small  hats  with  yellow  feathers.  They 
were  armed  with  scymitars  and  lances.  There  were  eight  white  sad- 
dle horses,  for  show.  In  the  third  court  of  state,  were  four  extraor- 
dinarily large  elephants,  one  of  which  was  white.  They  were  all  co- 
vered with  rich  embroidered  cloths,  and  their  trappings,  bridles, 
cruppers,  &c.  were  ornamented  with  silver  and  gilt :  on  their  backs  was  a 


91 


t  Purchas,  Vol.  I.  p.  48  2. 

N2 


t  Chap.  IX. 


INDIA  PAYS  TRIBUTE  TO  PERSIA,  B.  C.  1429. 

fine  carved  wooden  castle,  spacious  enough  for  eight  persons.  Being- 
got  out  of  the  court,  I  mounted  one  of  the  Emperor's  waggons  with 
two  wheels,  and  was  drawn  to  my  apartment  by  an  elephant.  There 
were  ten  persons  on  each  side,  with  a  rope  in  their  hands  fastened  to 
the  elephant's  mouth,  to  lead  him;  and,  on  his  neck,  sat  a  man  with 
an  iron  hook  to  guide  him.  He  went  but  his  ordinary  rate,  which 
obliged  the  men  to  run,  to  keep  up  with  him.  In  the  Emperor's  sta- 
bles there  were  fourteen  elephants :  they  made  them  roar,  sing  like  a 
Canary  bird,  neigh,  imitate  a  trumpet,  go  down  on  their  knees,  &c. — 
All  these  elephants  were  extraordinarily  large,  and  the  teeth  of  some  a 
full  fathom  long.  The  Mandarines  told  me,  that  the  king  of  Siam 
annually  sends  several  by  way  of  tribute  f." 

*         #         #  * 

Thus  we  find,  that  from  the  earliest  history  to  the  present  times, 
the  Chinese  have  always  possessed  numerous  elephants;  and  that 
they  have,  from  the  beginning,  had  wars  with  the  Tartars  in  and 
about  Siberia. 

PERSIA. 

Persia  had  wars  in  very  early  times  with  Hindostan.  Towards  the 
close  of  the  era  of  the  royal  dynasty  of  the  Marajas,  the  first  invasion 
of  India  by  the  Persians  is  placed.  A  prince  of  the  blood  royal  of 
India,  being  disgusted  with  the  reigning  prince,  fled  to  Persia,  whose 
king  was  called  Feredon :  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  prince,  invaded 
Hindostan,  and  carried  on  a  war  with  that  empire  for  ten  years.  The 


t  Isbrant's  Ides.    Harris's  Voy.  Vol.  II.  p.  949. 


KINOGE  BUILT.— GOUR,  CAPITAL  OF  BENGAL. 

Maraja  ceded  part  of  his  dominions  to  the  fugitive  prince,  who  was  his 
nephew.  A  tribute  was  sent  to  the  Mng  of  Persia,  and  the  empire  of 
India  seems  ever  after  to  depend  in  some  measure  on  Persia.  During 
this  war  the  governors  of  Ceylon  and  of  the  Carnatic  rebelled.  The 
Persians  threatened  a  second  invasion,  to  prevent  which  all  the  pro- 
vinces on  the  Indus  were  ceded  to  the  king  of  Persia.  When  the 
Marajas  family  became  extinct,  Kesroraja  mounted  the  throne  of  In- 
dia, as  near  as  can  be  computed,  in  the  year  1429,  before  Christ.  He 
solicited  the  aid  of  his  lord  paramount,  the  king  of  Persia.  Kesroraja, 
assisted  by  Persian  troops,  subdued  Ceylon  and  the  Decan,  he  con- 
tinued the  tribute  to  Persia,  and  his  dynasty  reigned  in  the  capital  of 
Oud  for  two  hundred  and  twenty  years. 

In  1209,  B.  C.  Ferosra  was  on  the  Indian  throne.  He  neglected 
war,  and  expended  the  revenues  on  devotees  and  enthusiasts,  and  in 
building  religious  temples.  Nevertheless,  Persia  being  invaded  by  the 
Tartars,  he  took  that  opportunity  to  recover  the  provinces  on  the  In- 
dus. It  is  said  that  the  Punjab  remained  in  possession  of  the  Indian 
monarchs  till  the  reign  of  Kei-kobad,  king  of  Persia.  In  his  time,  Rus- 
tum  Dista,  king  of  Seistan,  (Segistan),  the  Hercules  of  the  East,  invad- 
ed the  northern  provinces  of  India,  and  dro  ve  the  last  prince  of  the  dy- 
nasty of  Ferosra,  to  the  mountains  of  Turhat,  and  from  thence  to  the 
confines  of  Bengal  and  Orissa,  where  he  died.  Rustum  raised  to  the 
throne,  Suraja,  a  man  of  abilities,  and  restored  the  power  of  the  em- 
pire, B<  C.  1072.  Kinoge  was  built  by  one  of  this  family.  The  tri- 
bute continued  to  be  paid  to  Persia. 

In  the  eighth  century  before  the  Christian  era,  Sincol,  a  native  of 
Kinoge,  rebelled,  defeated  the  imperial  army,  and  mounted  the  throne. 
He  rebuilt  the  capital  of  Bengal,  Lucnouti  or  Goura,  which  became 
an  amazingly  magnificent  city.  Sincol  refused  to  pay  the  tribute  to 
Persia.    Pieran,  a  Persian  general,  invaded  India  with  fifty  thousand 


DELHI  BUILT.— GREEKS  INVADE  INDIA. 

horse:  he  was  beaten  by  Sincol;  and  posted  himself  in  a  strong  hold. 
From  this  place  he  sent  letters  to  his  king,  Afrasiab,  who  reigned  also 
over  great  part  of  Tartary ;  he  was  then  on  the  borders  of  China.  He 
came  to  battle  with  Sincol,  and,  with  one  hundred  thousand  horse, 
pursued  him  to  Goura.  Sincol  retreated  to  the  mountains.  He 
thought  it  most  prudent  to  beg  peace  and  forgiveness:  he  therefore 
went  to  the  camp,  in  the  character  of  a  suppliant,  with  a  sword  and  a 
coffin  carried  before  him,  to  shew  that  his  life  was  at  the  king's  disposal. 
Sincol  was  carried  to  Tartary,  as  a  hostage  for  the  obedience  of  his 
son  Rohata,  who  was  placed  upon  the  throne  of  Hindostan.  Sincol 
died  B.  C.  731.  Rohata  had  sent  to  Persia  one-third  of  his  revenues, 
as  tribute,  and  to  support  his  father.  Sincol's  dynasty  held  the  scep- 
tre eighty-one  years. 

Maraja,  a  Rajaput  chief,  now  succeeded  to  the  empire.  He  was 
contemporary  with  Hystaspes,  father  of  Darius,  who  mounted  the  Per- 
sian throne  after  the  death  of  Smerdis,  by  the  Hindoo  chronology,  B. 
C.  586;  which  agrees  almost  exactly  with  that  established  by  Sir  Isaac 
Newton.  Maraja  reigned  forty  years.  Kedaraja,  his  nephew,  suc- 
ceeded him. 

The  mountaineers  of  Cabul  and  Candahar,  now  called  Afghans  or 
Patans,  recovered  all  the  provinces  on  the  Indus.  Jei-chund,  the 
commander  in  chief  of  Kedaraja's  armies,  succeeded  him.  He  reign- 
ed sixty  years.  Jei-chund  punctually  paid  the  Persian  tribute.  Delu, 
brother  of  Jei-chund,  seized  the  throne  from  his  nephew,  Jei-chund's 
eldest  son.  He  built  the  city  which  bears  his  name,  Delhi.  In  the 
reign  of  Delu,  Phoor,  a  prince  of  his  own  family,  rebelled  against  the 
Emperor,  marched  to  Kinoge,  defeated  his  sovereign,  and  confined  him 
in  the  fort  of  Rhotas.  Phoor  extended  his  power  from  sea  to  sea,  and 
restored  the  empire  to  its  pristine  dignity.  He  died  after  a  long  reign, 
and  left  the  empire  to  his  son,  Phoor  II.  who,  in  consequence  of  the 


MANY  ELEPHANTS  IN  PERSIA.  95 

troubles  in  Persia,  neglected  to  pay  the  tribute;  he  was  the  Porus  van-  C^?* 
quished  by  Alexander  the  Greatf .  k^^-^j 


The  hero  Roostum,  in  the  battle  in  which  he  slew  the  king  of  Ma- 
zenderan,  is  said  to  have  killed  a  number  of  elephants.  We  must  con- 
clude, from  both  the  ancient  history  and  the  sculptures  of  Persia,  that 
this  animal  once  abounded  in  that  kingdom.  The  province  of  Mazen- 
deran  is,  from  climate  and  abundance  of  vegetation,  more  favourable  to 
their  support  than  any  other  in  the  empire  j. 

#  *         *  * 

The  sides  of  the  arch  (at  Tackt-i-Bostan)  are  covered  with  repre- 
sentations, in  bas  relief,  of  the  boar  hunt.  Some  are  mounted  on 
horses,  and  others  on  elephants.  The  ponderous  elephants,  with  their 
riders,  plunge  through  the  marshy  bushes  in  every  direction.  An  up- 
right compartment,  on  one  side  of  the  chase,  is  dedicated  to  the  carry- 
ing of  the  spoil ;  and  the  division  opposite,  to  a  range  of  elephants  in 
pursuit  of  the  deer  §. 

*  #        *  * 

The  army  of  Artaxerxes  consisted  of  a  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand horse,  seven  hundred  elephants  with  towers  filled  with  archers, 

f  See  Dow's  Hindostan,  Introduction.  The  reader  is  requested  to  excuse 
some  few  repetitions,  on  the  consideration  of  various  histories  confirming  each 
other  as  to  events ;  but  to  elucidate  the  periods  of  most  of  them  appears  hopeless, 
till  Alexander's  invasion  of  India. 

%  Sir  John  Malcolm's  History,  Vol.  I.  p.  35. 

§  Sir  R.  K.  Porter's  Travels  in  Persia,  Vol.  II.  p.  79,  and  plate  LXII1. 


IMMENSE  HUNTING  NETS. 

upon  their  backs ;  and  one  thousand  eight  hundred  chariots  armed 
with  scythes  f. 

#  #         #  # 

Elephants  are  used  all  over  the  east,  in  the  amusements  of  the 
chase;  and  hunting  was  always  a  royal  sport  in  Persia.  Alexander 
the  Great,  when  he  was  there,  killed  a  fierce  lion,  and  was  compli- 
mented by  the  Lacedemonian  ambassadors.  Philotas,  son  of  Parme- 
nio,  had  hunting  nets  that  would  enclose  the  space  of  a  hundred  fur- 
longs j. 

#  *  #  * 

As  to  eagles,  hawks,  falcons,  and  other  birds  of  prey,  there  is  no 
country  where  they  have  more,  or  where  they  are  better  instructed, 
than  in  Persia.  The  Shah  has  eight  hundred  or  a  thousand  of  them; 
and  there  is  no  man  of  any  figure,  without  his  hawks  and  falconers. 
The  hawks  are  taught  not  only  to  fly  at  birds,  but  at  hares,  deer,  and 
all  manner  of  wild  beasts.  By  fixing  themselves  on  the  head  of  the 
animal,  and  beating  him  with  their  wings,  he  is  so  terrified  and  dis- 
tracted, that  the  dogs  and  huntsmen,  which  follow,  have  very  little  dif- 
ficulty in  taking  him§. 

*  *         *  * 

We  had  a  sight  of  prince  Polagi's  elephant,  and  were  astonished 
at  his  monstrous  bulk;  he  exceeded  the  height  of  any  two  men,  and 
was  much  larger  than  any  we  saw  at  Ispahan,  where  there  was  a  great 
number  of  them ;  he  was  governed  by  a  little  boy. 

t  Gibbon  supposes  this  force  much  exaggerated  by  Alexander  Severus. 
%  Plutarch.  §  Harris's  Voy.  Vol.  II.  p.  887. 


96 


CHAP. 
III. 


A  JOVIAL  HUNTING  PARTY  IN  PERSIA 

*  *  *  * 

There  were  driven  into  the  enclosure  thirty-two  wild  asses,  at 
which  the  king  discharged  some  balls,  and  shot  some  arrows.  He 
then  permitted  the  ambassadors  and  lords  to  shoot  at  them.  The 
beasts  having  sometimes  ten,  or  more,  arrows  shot  into  their  bodies, 
would  fall  a  biting  and  running  at  one  another  in  a  strange  manner. 
Having  killed  all  that  were  wounded,  thirty  more  wild  asses  were 
let  in ;  which  were  killed  and  laid  in  a  row  before  the  king,  to  be  sent 
to  the  court  kitchen  at  Ispahan.  The  Persians  highly  esteem  the 
flesh.  On  the  26th  Nov.  (1637),  the  king  (Shah  Sefi)  returned  from 
the  hunting  so  drunk,  as  also  were  most  of  the  lords,  that  they  could 
hardly  sit  their  horses  f . 

At  the  great  hunts  of  lions,  leopards,  tigers,  panthers,  ounces,  boars, 
stags,  hyaenas,  &c.  they  make  use  of  the  yourze,  (hunting  leopard). 
When  they  are  too  large  to  be  carried  behind  the  rider  upon  a  horse, 
they  are  placed  in  an  iron  cage,  and  carried  upon  an  elephant;  and 
thence  leap  upon  their  prey  J.  The  ordinary  number  of  animals 
slaughtered  is  seven  or  eight  hundred,  but  they  relate  that  as  many  as 
fourteen  thousand  have  been  killed  sometimes 

t  Ambassador's  Travels,  pp.  191,  212,  213. 

%  Such  importance  have  the  Persians  always  attached  to  these  sports,  that  they 
record  in  their  history,  that — "  Hushing,  probably  contemporary  with  Minos,  and 
king  of  Persia,  B.  C.  865,  was  the  first  who  bred  dogs  and  leopards  for  hunting, 
and  introduced  the  fashion  of  wearing  the  furs  of  wild  beasts  in  winter."  Sir  Wil- 
liam Jones,  Vol.  V.  p.  588. 

§  Voyage  de  Chardin,  en  Perse,  Vol.  II.  p.  33. 

o 


97 


CHAP. 
III. 


LEOPARDS  CARRIED  UPON  ELEPHANTS. 

*  *  *  0 

The  envoy  from  Batavia  made  his  public  entry  into  Ispahan,  pre- 
ceded by  six  elephants,  which  the  governor  had  sent  to  the  king. 
A.  D.  1717  f. 

#  #       if  * 

The  Khan  (of  Shamaehie),  desirous  to  let  the  ambassadors  see  how 
expert  he  was  in  shooting,  bid  them  observe  one  of  the  lamps  that 
stood  near  them,  to  see  whether  he  struck  it  out  with  the  first  musket- 
shot,  which  he  did  twice  following.  On  the  27th,  he,  being  engaged 
in  business,  sent  us  his  huntsmen,  his  hounds,  and  his  hawks ;  as  also 
a  leopard,  which,  being  excellently  taught,  started  with  as  much  swift- 
ness as  a  greyhound,  and  gave  us  all  the  satisfaction  which  hunting 
could  afford.  He  discovered  no  hare  which  he  took  not,  and  came  on 
at  the  least  call  with  more  command  than  any  setting  dog,  leaping  up 
behind  the  person  who  had  the  ordering  of  him.  Olearius,  pp.  156, 
162. 

$,  *  *  *  »«•  rmd£ 

Every  day,  at  Delhi,  were  given  combats  of  elephants,  bulls,  lions, 
and  other  wild  beasts. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  and  following  days,  the  commissaries  secured 
treasures  in  precious  jewels  beyond  conception:  fifteen  crores  (a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  millions)  of  rupees,  horses,  and  elephants  innumerable. 
Nadir  apprised  the  king  of  Bokara,  that,  as  that  empire  belonged  to 


CHAP. 
111. 


t  Bell  of  Antermony, 


FOURTEEN  ELEPHANTS  SENT  TO  ST.  PETERSBURG.  99 

the  descendants  of  Genghis  Khan,  he  was  resolved  to  secure  its  tran-  CHAP. 

HI. 

quillity,  for  which  purpose  he  should  visit  it.    He  sent  at  this  time  ^f^***^ 
fourteen  chain  elephants  and  other  presents  to  the  Emperor  of  Rus- 
sia.   The  captured  artillery  and  elephants  were  sent  from  Cabul  to 
Herat. 

At  Meschihd,  (A.  D.  1740),  an  ambassador  from  India,  presented  to 
Nadir  Shah,  letters  assigning  certain  revenues,  and  many  chain  ele- 
phants. 

His  Majesty  sent  to  the  Grand  Seignior  a  throne  of  solid  gold,  or- 
namented with  large  pearls,  and  two  chain  elephants  that  had  been 
taught,  at  the  sound  of  instruments,  to  dance*.  Nadir  Shah  brought 
three  hundred  elephants  from  Delhi  to  Persia  f . 


The  king  of  Persia's  elephants  are  much  larger  than  those  exhibited 
in  Europe :  they  were  richly  caparisoned,  and  mounted  by  Indians. 
Their  bodies  were  painted  with  various  colours,  while  their  trunks, 
tails,  and  tusks,  were  guilded.  A  child  makes  them  obey  his  orders, 
and  they  are  trained  to  kneel  in  the  manner  of  camels ;  to  salute  the 
king  with  their  proboscis ;  to  cry  out ;  to  shake  their  ears  when  they 
are  ordered ;  in  short,  to  raise  themselves  on  their  hind  legs.  A 
group  of  tumblers  dexterously  mounted  the  largest  of  the  king's  ele- 
phants, and  the  young  rope  dancer  gave  us  new  alarms,  by  making  an 
extremely  dangerous  leap  backwards  from  the  crupper  of  the  sad- 
dle +. 

*  Sir  W.  Jones's  Works,  Life  of  Nadir  Shah,  Vol.  V. 
t  Universal  Magazine,  January,  1754. 

X  Tancoign's  Journey  into  Persia,  with  the  embassy  of  General  Gardane,  1807. 
O  2 


100 


CHAP. 
III. 

— *  '  ORIGIN  OF  THE  MODERN  TURKS. 

Butezena,  the  first  leader  of  the  Turks,  A.  D.  545,  (whose  resi- 
dence was  by  the  Altai,  or  Golden  Mountains,  near  the  river  Irtish, 
in  latitude  49  by  the  learned  Chinese  accounts,)  married  a  Chinese 
princess.  In  the  course  of  fifty  years,  the  Turks  made  war  upon  the 
Persians,  Chinese,  and  Romans;  and  their  conquests  extended  to  the 
fro%en  ocean.  The  Chinese  bought  off  these  conquerors  by  tribute. 
The  Turks  subdued  the  Ogars  on  the  banks  of  the  Til  (Volga)  and 
slew  immense  numbers.  They  made  a  treaty  with  Justinian,  the 
Roman  Emperor,  who  sent  ambassadors  to  the  Altai  mountains. 
They  were  feasted  in  tents  with  embroidered  silk  hangings,  the  royal 
seat  was  of  gold,  and  also  the  cups  and  vessels  out  of  which  they  drank. 
A  bed  of  massy  gold  was  raised  upon  four  golden  peacocks.  Silver 
statues,  dishes  and  basons,  of  admirable  workmanship,  were  ostenta- 
tiously piled  up  upon  waggons.  When  Disabal  had  celebrated  the 
obsequies  of  his  father,  he  was  saluted  by  the  ambassadors,  from  Con- 
stantinople, of  the  Emperor  Tiberius,  who  proposed  an  invasion  of 
Persia.  The  Grand  Khan  answered  them  by  putting  his  ten  fingers 
to  his  mouth,  "  You  Romans,"  said  he,  "  speak  with  as  many  tongues 
of  deceit  and  perjury.  A  Turk  disdains  a  falsehood.  You  precipi- 
tate your  allies  into  danger ;  you  favour  my  fugitives,  the  Ogars.  I 
know  their  route  and  am  acquainted  with  the  course  of  the  Neister, 
the  Danube,  and  the  Hebrus.  The  most  warlike  nations,  from  the 
rising  to  the  setting  sun,  have  yielded  to  the  Turks."  Disabal  sent 
ambassadors  to  the  Emperor  Maurice,  styling  himself  lord  of  the  seven 
climates,  master  of  the  seven  races.  The  south  boundary  of  the 
Turks  was  the  Oxus  *. 

*  See  Gibbon's  Roman  Empire,  Ch.  XLIL 


101 


SCYTHIA. — TURAN. — TURQUESTAN. 

"  Chaganus,  the  Scythian  king,  sent  ambassadors  to  the  Emperor 
Mauritius,  (who  died  A.  D.  602).  He  styled  himself  governor  of 
seven  nations.  He  conquered  the  Abdelae,  the  Avares,  and  the  Ogar 
nation,  which  dwell  by  the  river  Til  or  Volga.  He  conquered  also 
the  king  of  Colch,  in  which  war  he  slew  three  hundred  thousand 
people.  He  subdued  also  the  Turks  at  the  hill  Icar,  four  hundred 
miles  distant  from  the  Golden  Mountain,  which  is  in  the  east,  rich  in 
fertility  and  store  of  cattle,  and  which  the  greatest  Chagan  among  the 
Turks  always  possesseth.  They  call  their  priests  Taisan,  that  is,  the 
son  of  God.  This  city  is  divided  by  a  stream  ;  they  say  it  was  built 
by  Alexander  when  he  had  overcome  the  Sogdians  and  Bactrians. 
The  king's  wives,  shining  with  jewels,  are  carried  in  golden  chariots, 
each  drawn  with  one  bull ;  the  bridles  embossed  with  gold.  Fame 
attributeth  another  city,  not  far  from  hence,  to  Alexander,  called  Chub- 
dan;  the  prince  whereof  being  dead,  his  wives  in  bjack,  with  shaven 
heads,  continually  mourn,  and  may  never  forsake  the  sepulchre. 
They  have  many  elephants ;  and  traffic  with  the  northern  Indians, 
who  make  silk.  Thus  much  I  thought  worth  adding  out  of  Simocat- 
ta,  for  better  knowledge  of  the  Turkish,  Tartarian,  and  Scythian 
history  f ." 

*         *         #  * 

"  As  I  have  pointed  out  the  course  of  the  Irtish  till  it  reaches  Tobolsk, 
says  Mr.  Bell,  I  will  mention  what  I  have  heard  from  an  ingenious 
gentleman,  who  fills  a  public  place  in  Siberia,  about  the  Kontaisha,  or 

t  Purchas,  Vol.  I.  p.  397,  Chaganus  is,  no  doubt,  the  Latinism  for  khan  of 
khans. 


KONTAISCHA  OF  THE  KALMUCS. 

prince  of  the  Kalmucs.  His  territories  are  bounded  on  the  North 
by  the  Russian  power,  (see  map,  flag  23),  by  China  on  the  east,  and  by 
the  Great  Mogul  on  the  south.  He  is  able  to  bring  into  the  field,  at 
a  short  warning,  a  hundred  thousand  horse-men,  all  able-bodied  men, 
well  mounted,  and  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  lances  and  sabres. 
They  live  in  tents  all  the  year,  removing  at  their  convenience.  This 
is  the  most  ancient  and  pleasant  manner  of  life.  It  is  entertaining  to 
hear  them  commiserate  those  who  are  confined  to  one  place  of  abode, 
and  obliged  to  support  themselves  by  labour.  There  are  always  some 
thousands  encamped  near  the  Kontaisha,  who  treat  him  with  great 
veneration  and  respect.  He  is  attentive  to  the  interests  of  his  peo- 
ple, and  as  assiduous  in  the  administration  of  justice,  as  if  they  were 
his  own  children.  A  person  may  travel  in  his  dominions  with  greater 
safety  to  his  person  and  effects  than  in  many  other  countries.  The 
deputy  from  the  governor  of  Siberia,  with  his  servants,  were  admitted 
into  the  tent,  where  the  Kontaisha  sat  with  his  queen  and  several 
children  about  him.  He  desired  all  of  them  to  sit  down,  on  carpets  or 
mats.  They  were  entertained  with  tea  before  dinner:  and  after  it 
the  Kontaisha  dismissed  the  deputy  in  a  friendly  manner,  telling  him 
he  would  give  him  the  answer  to  the  governor's  letter  the  next  day, 
which  he  punctually  performed.  They  write  with  brevity  and  per- 
spicuity. I  have  seen  some  of  their  letters  translated,  which  pleased 
me  extremely :  they  use  no  tedious  preambles  or  disgusting  repetitions. 
The  Kontaisha  some  time  ago  claimed  and  took  possession  of  some 
towns  on  the  Chinese  frontier.  The  Emperor  sent  an  army  of  three 
hundred  thousand  men,  under  the  command  of  his  fourteenth  son,  the 
best  general  of  all  his  children.  The  Kontaisha  defeated  them  in 
several  actions,  and  peace  was  concluded.  The  Chinese  had  marched 
from  the  west  of  China  through  a  desert  and  barren  country,  encum- 
bered with  artillery,  and  heavy  carriages  with  provisions  for  the  whole 


FIVE  HUNDRED  ELEPHANTS  EXPOSED  TO  EXTREME  COLD. 

army :  by  which  their  force  was  much  diminished.  On  their  approach 
within  a  few  days  march  of  the  Kontaisha,  he  sent  out  detachments 
of  light  horse  to  set  fire  to  the  grass,  lay  waste  the  country,  and  dis- 
tract them  day  and  night  with  alarms.  This  is  their  ancient  practice, 
by  which  they  deprive  their  enemies  of  provisions,  while  they  have 
always  spare  horses  to  kill  and  eat.  This  must  be  the  same  prince 
who  is  called  the  Great  Cham  of  Tartary.  As  no  Europeans  travel 
through  this  country,  our  maps  must  be  very  erroneous."  Journey  to 
Pekin,  1720,  Ch.  II. 

*        *         *  * 

The  following  is  particularly  important,  on  account  of  proving  that 
elephants  will  live  in  the  severest  cold.  We  also  find  that  Timur 
did  not  lose  any  elephants,  although  "  his  troops  were  obliged  to  dig 
for  water,  two  or  three  cubits  through  the  ice;  as,  from  the  sun's  enter- 
ing Sagittarius  to  his  coming  out  of  Pisces,  waggons,  men,  and  beasts 
could  pass  any  part  either  of  the  Gihon  or  the  Sihon.  Horses  and 
men  perished,  some  losing  their  hands,  feet,  ears,  or  noses  *." 

The  king  of  Cashgar  met  Mamood's  army  five  farsangs  from  Balich, 
or  Bale.  Mamood  strengthened  his  line  with  five  hundred  chain  ele- 
phants. Some  chosen  squadrons,  under  the  command  of  Elich,  hav- 
ing thrown  his  centre  into  disorder,  Mamood  mounted  an  elephant 
and  violently  assaulted  Elich.  The  elephant  seized  the  standard 
bearer  with  his  trunk,  and  tossed  him  aloft  into  the  air.  Mamood 
then  pressed  forward,  and  totally  defeated  the  king.  It  was  winter, 
and  he  pursued  the  enemy  two  days;  though,  on  account  of  the  incle- 
mency of  the  season,  the  troops  were  hardly  capable  of  motion.  On 
the  third  night,  a  great  storm  of  wind  and  snow  overtook  the  Ghiz- 


103 


*  Sherefeddin,  Vol.  II.  p.  379. 


AN  IMMENSELY  LARGE  ELEPHANT. 

nian  army  in  the  desert.  The  troops  were  obliged  to  lie  in  the  snow ; 
and  in  the  morning,  some  hundreds  of  men  and  horses  were  found  to 
have  perished  with  cold.  A.D.  1007f. 

*  *        *  * 

Mamood  had  a  white  elephant,  and,  when  mounted  upon  that  ani- 
mal during  an  engagement,  he  esteemed  it  as  a  certain  pledge  of  vic- 
tory J. 

*  *        *  * 

Mamood,  returning  to  Balich,  gave  the  government  of  Herat  to  his 
son,  Masaood.  Hethen  marched  with  a  hundred  and  thirty  thousand 
horse  and  foot,  through  the  mountains  behind  Cashmere,  by  way  of 
Thibet,  to  Kinoge. 

The  Indian  prince  submitted,  and  paid  the  plunder  of  the  city,  and 
fifty  elephants.  The  Sultan  proceeded  to  Mavin,  on  the  Jumna,  which 
surrendered.    He  found  much  spoil,  and  seventy  elephants  of  war. 

At  Mutra,  he  captured  five  great  idols  of  pure  gold,  and  above  one 
hundred  of  silver;  and  loaded  a  hundred  camels  with  bullion.  From 
the  Raja  Jundroy  he  took  three  hundred  and  fifty  elephants,  fifty- 
three  thousand  captives,  jewels,  pearls,  and  precious  effects,  which 
could  not  be  properly  estimated:  nor  was  the  private  spoil  less. 
Jundroy  had  an  elephant  of  a  most  uncommon  size,  such  as  had  never 
before  been  seen  in  Hindostan;  nor  was  he  more  remarkable  for  his 
enormous  bulk,  than  for  his  docility  and  courage.    Mamood,  having 

f  Dow,  Vol.  I.  p.  46.  No  instance  has  been  met  with  of  an  elephant  being  kill- 
ed by  the  cold. 

t  D'Herbelot,  Vol.11,  p.  41. 


104 

CHAP. 
III. 


THIRTEEN  HUNDRED  ELEPHANTS  IN  MAVERULNERE.  105 

heard  much  of  this  elephant,  sent  to  the  Raja,  offering  him  advanta-  C**A p 
geous  terms  of  peace,  and  a  great  sum  of  money  for  this  animal.  But 
the  obstinacy  of  Jundroy  would  never  listen  to  any  terms  with  the 
mussulmans;  so  that  Mamood,  with  regret,  was  obliged  to  desist. 
The  elephant,  however,  happened  one  night  to  break  loose  from  his 
keepers,  and  went  into  the  Ghiznian  camp ;  where  he  permitted  him- 
self to  be  mounted  and  brought  before  the  king;  who  received  him 
with  great  joy,  and  named  him  "  The  Gift  of  God,"  because  he  came 
by  accident  into  his  hands.  #  *  *  The  king,  on  his  return  to  Ghisni, 
ordered  a  magnificent  mosque  of  marble,  of  such  beauty,  as  struck 
every  beholder  with  astonishment  and  pleasure.  It  was  adorned  with 
such  elegant  carpets,  chandeliers,  and  other  ornaments,  of  silver  and 
gold,  that  it  became  known  by  the  name  of  "  The  Celestial  Bride." 
Near  this  mosque,  he  founded  an  university,  which  he  furnished  with  a 
vast  collection  of  curious  books,  in  various  languages ;  and  with  na- 
tural and  artificial  curiosities.  He  appropriated  a  sufficient  fund  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  students,  and  learned  men,  who  were  appointed 
to  instruct  the  youth  in  the  sciences  f. 

# '  .     #        *  * 

In  the  year  1024,  Mamood  marched  to  Balich  with  fifty-five  thou- 
sand chosen  horse,  and  thirteen  hundred  elephants,  to  expel  Tiggi 
from  the  government  of  Maverulnere,  for  oppressing  the  people,  who 
had  complained  to  the  king  of  his  tyranny.  Kudir,  king  of  Turques- 
tan,  paid  Mamood  a  visit,  and  was  received  with  joy  and  friendship, 
with  whom  Mamood  entered  into  a  treaty;  and  the  monarchs,  on 

t  Dow's  Hindostan,  Vol.  I.  p.  59. 
P 


106  ELEPHANT  GUARD  AT  LASSA. 

CHAP,  taking  leave,  made  an  exchange  of  princely  presents  f.  Tiggi  fled, 
^-v-^  but  was  overtaken,  and  confined  for  life  t . 


OF  BOUT  AN,  A.  D.  1659. 


From  Goruckpour  to  the  foot  of  the  high  mountains,  is  eight  or 
nine  days  journey ;  during  which,  the  caravan  suffers  great  hardships, 
the  country  being  nothing  but  wide  forests,  full  of  wild  elephants.  Six 
leagues  beyond  Goruckpour,  you  enter  Napaul :  which  territories  ex- 
tend to  the  frontiers  of  Boutan.  The  Raja  resides  at  the  city  of  Na- 
paul, and  he  pays  the  Mogul  every  year  an  elephant  for  homage,  It 
took  the  caravan  eight  days  to  cross  the  mountains  of  Naugrocot. 
Women  came  down,  to  carry  the  travellers  upon  a  cushion  fixed  on 
their  backs;  three  women  to  carry  one  man.  The  luggage  and  provi- 
sions are  laden  upon  goats,  which  carry  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
weight  each.  After  you  have  passed  the  mountains,  you  may  travel 
to  Boutan  upon  oxen,  camels,  horses,  or  palanquins.  The  men  and 
women  are  clad,  in  summer,  with  fustian  or  hempen  cloth,  in  winter 
with  a  thick  cloth  almost  like  felt.  Had  the  natives  of  Boutan  as 
much  art  as  the  Muscovites  in  killing  the  martin,  they  might  vend 
great  stores  of  those  rich  furs,  considering  what  a  number  there  is  in 
that  country.  There  are  always  fifty  elephants  kept  about  the  king 
of  Boutan's  house ;  and  twenty-five  camels,  each  with  a  piece  of  artil- 
lery upon  its  back,  which  carries  a  half-pound  ball.  No  king  in  the 
world  is  more  feared,  respected,  and  adored.  They  assured  me,  as  a 
truth,  that  when  his  majesty  has  done  the  deeds  of  nature,  they  care- 
fully collect  the  ordure,  dry  it,  powder  it,  and  carry  it  in  a  box  like 

f  We  may  reasonably  presume  that  elephants  formed  a  part  of  these  presents. 
$  Dow,  Vol.  I.  p.  65. 


ASSAMESE  INVADE  BENGAL.  107 

snuff,  to  present  to  their  friends,  in  small  quantities,  as  a  great  rarity,  CIJ^P* 
to  strew  upon  their  meat.  They  have  no  one  to  fear  but  the 
Mogul ;  and  from  him  they  are  fenced  with  high,  steep,  craggy  and 
snowy  mountains.  Northward,  nothing  but  vast  forests  and  snow ; 
East  and  West,  nothing  but  bitter  water;  and  as  for  the  Rajas  near 
them,  they  are  princes  of  little  force.  In  the  year  1659,  the  Duke  of 
Muscovy's  ambassador  passed  through  this  country  to  the  king  of 
China*. 

OF  ASSAM. 


In  the  year  1638,  the  Tartars  of  Assam  invaded  Bengal.  They 
rushed  down  the  Burhampooter  in  armed  boats,  to  where  it  falls  into 
the  Ganges  below  Dacca.  They  plundered  the  northern  districts, 
and  took  several  small  forts.  Islam,  governor  of  Bengal,  defeated 
them,  and  killed  four  thousand ;  and  captured  five  hundred  of  their 
armed  vessels.  Fifteen  forts,  and  the  king  of  Assam's  son  in  law,  fell 
into  his  hands.  He  reduced  the  province  of  Cochagi,  and  invaded 
that  of  Buldive.  The  latter  was  very  obstinately  defended.  Few  pass- 
es led  into  it,  being  environed  with  mountains.  The  Subadar  at  last 
forced  the  passes,  and  the  enemy  fled  to  the  mountains.  The  sove- 
reign of  Buldive,  harassed  with  fatigue  and  vexation,  died.  The 
unfortunate  Assamites  beheld,  from  their  hills  and  woods,  the  smoke 
of  their  burning  towns.  But  Islam  having  burnt  the  grain,  inadvert- 
ently, the  scarcity  obliged  him  to  retreat.  He  suffered  incredible 
hardships  by  the  badness  of  the  roads  and  the  torrents  from  the  hills; 

*  Tavernier,  P.  II.  B.  III.  Ch  XV.  At  Chamnaning  in  Thibet,  Lat.  30°  44',  Mr. 
Bogle,  in  1774,  found  Fahrenheit's  thermometer  in  his  room  29  degrees  below  the 
freezing  point.  While  Mr.  B.  was  at  that  place,  several  Mongols  and  Calmucs  ar- 
rived from  Siberia,  with  whom  the  Tayshoo  Lama  conversed. 


108 


ELEPHANTS  BURIED  WITH  THE  KINGS. 


CHAP,    besides  which,  the  rainy  season  produced  a  distemper  in  the  imperial 
^■^^j  army.    Thibet  was  at  the  same  time  reduced  by  Ziffer.    The  news  of 
this  double  conquest  greatly  pleased  the  Emperor,  no  Mahomedan 
prince  in  India  having  before  ever  penetrated  into  those  countries  f. 


Aurungzebe's  general,  Meer  Jumla,  invaded  Assam,  and  brought 
from  thence  several  iron  cannons,  and  store  of  excellent  powder,  both 
made  in  that  country.  He  landed  his  army  in  the  29th  or  30th  degree 
of  latitude,  having  sailed  up  the  mouth  of  the  Ganges,  that  comes  from 
Lake  Chiamay,  and  burnt  and  sacked  all  wherever  he  came,  to  the  35th 
degree  % :  there  he  understood  that  the  king  of  Assam  was  in  the  field, 
with  a  more  powerful  army  than  he  expected;  he  therefore  retreated 
to  the  south-west,  and  besieged  and  plundered  the  city  of  Aroo,  where 
are  the  tombs  of  their  sovereigns.  He  found  great  wealth.  They  bury 
with  their  kings  idols  of  gold  and  silver,  one  elephant  §,  twelve  camels, 
six  horses,  many  hounds.  All  his  beloved  wives,  and  the  principal  offi- 
cers, poison  themselves,  to  be  buried  with  him.  At  Kenneroof,  the 
king  keeps  his  court.  It  is  a  rich  and  abundant  country.  All 
the  natives  live  at  their  ease ;  every  one  has  a  house  by  himself;  and 
in  the  middle  of  his  ground  a  fountain,  encompassed  with  trees ;  and, 
most  commonly,  every  one  an  elephant  to  carry  his  wife  j|. 

t  Dow's  Hindostan,  Vol.  III.  p.  162. 

%  Along  account  of  this  invasion  is  in  Dow's  Hist.  Vol.  III.  p.  357.  A.  D.  1665. 

§  Although  there  is  no  direct  evidence  that  Assam  was  conquered  hy  the 
Grand  Khans,  as  the  surrounding  states  were  all  reduced,  it  is  not  probable  that 
Assam  escaped  the  general  fate.    See  M.  Polo,  note  887. 

||  Tavernier,  Part  II.  B.  III.  Ch.  XVII.  See  also  Sir  W.  Jones's  Supplement, 
Vol.  I.  p.  231. 


f  1111     B  H  0 

(or  f  AIllLAIl) 

Trom.  an.  IiLlLaTL  Toxtrait  m.  the  Tofsefsion  of  th.e  Autkor 


109 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Sketch  of  the  life  of  Timur  Bee,  or  Tamerlane.  His  Battles 

in  Siberia  Russia  Hindostan  Syria   Georgia 

 Asia  Minor.  Elephants.  Extraordinary  Splendour 

of  his  Court.  His  Death.  Ruin  of  his  Empire.  Em- 
bassy from  his  son,  Shah  Rohk,  to  the  Emperor  of  China. 
 Origin  of  the  Gypsies. 

TiMUR  Bee,  or  Tamerlane,  was  descended,  in  the  female  line,  from 

CHAP. 

Genghis  Khan.    He  was  born  at  Sebzar  in  the  territory  of  Kesh,  near  iv. 


April  9, 


Samarcand,  in  the  year  1336. 

The  empire  of  Turquestan  and  Transoxiana  was  given  by  Genghis 
Khan  to  his  son  Zagatai :  his  descendant,  Sultan  Cazan,  succeeded  to 
the  throne  in  1332.  He  proved  a  cruel  tyrant,  and  fell  in  the  field  of 
battle  in  1346.  Confederate  chiefs  placed  other  princes,  successively, 
upon  the  throne ;  but,  through  dissentions  among  the  chiefs,  the  whole 
country  became  a  scene  of  anarchy  and  despair.  During  these  trou- 
bles, Togluc  Timur  Khan,.king  of  the  Getes  *,  who  was  descended  from  A  ^ 
Zagatai,  resolved  to  make  himself  master  of  the  country,  to  which,  as 
hereditary  Grand  Khan,  his  birth  gave  him  a  just  title ;  and  he  levied 
an  army  for  that  purpose. 

Hadgi  Berlas,  (the  name  of  a  noble  tribe)  to  whom  and  his  ancestors 


*  Gete  or  Geta  appears,  throughout,  to  include  Central  and  Western  Siberia, 
as  well  as  Cashgar.    See  Chap.  V. 


COMMENCEMENT  OF  TIMUR'S  GOOD  FORTUNE.— HIS  POWER. 

the  town  of  Kesh  and  its  dependencies  had  always  belonged,  was  the 
uncle  of  Timur.  He  was  one  of  the  confederate  princes,  and  levied  as 
many  troops  in  the  cities  of  Kesh  and  Carshi  as  he  could,  in  order  to 
assist  in  repelling  the  invasion;  but,  changing  his  resolution,  he 
marched  to  Chorassan. 

Timur's  father,  Tragai,  had  just  paid  the  debt  of  nature;  and  his 
uncle,  Hadgi  Berlas,  having  fled,  Timur  conceived  himself  to  be  the 
only  person  who  could  put  a  stop  to  the  insult,  with  which  a  foreign 
army  threatened  his  unhappy  country.  He  repaired  to  his  uncle,  re- 
presented the  dangers  that  awaited  them,  and  proposed  going  to  the 
king  of  the  Getes  to  offer  his  services,  by  which  he  hoped  to  avert  the 
impending  ruin.  Hadgi  Berlas  embraced  him,  and,  feeling  persuaded 
that  his  nephew  was  inspired  by  Heaven,  approved  of  his  project. 

Timur  set  out,  and  at  Cuzar  he  met  the  conductor  of  the  scouts  of 
the  king;  to  whom  he  behaved  so  handsomely  that  Hadgi  Yesouri, 
which  was  the  conductor's  name,  promised  not  to  commit  any  hostili- 
ties before  a  conference  was  had  with  the  three  Mongol  princes  who 
had  gone  forward.  Timur  returned  to  Kesh,  where  the  princes  had 
arrived.  They  expressed  great  pleasure  at  his  having  submitted  to 
the  Grand  Khan,  and  gave  him  the  command  of  a  toman  (ten  thou- 
sand) which  was  formerly  under  his  ancestor  Caratchar*.  They  also 
gave  him  the  principality  of  Kesh,  with  all  its  dependencies.  Peace 
was  thus  restored ;  and  it  was  said  of  Timur,  that  at  the  sight  of  him 
alone  sorrow  was  changed  into  joy. 

Dissentions  arising  among  the  princes,  they  returned  with  all  their 
troops  to  the  king,  who  was  at  Tashkund. 

Timur's  person  is  described  as  tall  and  well  formed,  and  that  na- 
ture had  set  in  his  eyes  such  majesty,  that  men  could  scarcely  endure 

*  On  this  subject  see  page  23  of  Timur's  Institutes. 


TIMUR  AT  THE  COURT  OF  SAMARCAND.  Ill 

to  look  on  them.    He  wore  his  hair  long,  contrary  to  the  Tartarian  c^p* 
custom,  pretending  that  his  mother  was  of  the  race  of  Sampson  *.    He  ^-<^y-*^ 
was  grave  and  modest  in  his  deportment,  a  strict  observer  of  his  word, 
and  rigidly  attached  to  the  religion  and  law  of  Mahometf . 

Timur's  country  had  begun  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  his  clemency 
and  justice,  when  he  heard  that  his  uncle  was  on  his  return  to  Kesh, 
with  hostile  intentions.  On  which  Timur,  joined  by  prince  Keser, 
marched,  and  at  Akiar  a  bloody  battle  took  place  in  favor  of  Timur ; 
but,  for  some  reason,  not  related,  Timur's  troops  deserted  him,  and 
went  over  to  his  uncle ;  leaving  with  Timur  only  the  prince  Yakou. 
Keser,  on  this,  also  deserted  Timur,  entertaining  jealousy  and  a  bad 
opinion  of  him. 

The  Mongol  Khan,  king  of  Gete,  again  invaded  Transoxiana  with  A.D.  1360. 
a  great  army;  on  his  arrival  at  Cogende,  Bayazid  the  prince  of  that 
place  went  to  pay  his  respects.  Hadgi  Berlas  followed  his  example. 
Bayazid  being  seized  and  put  to  death,  Hadgi  Berlas  took  the  alarm, 
and  fled  to  Kesh ;  whence  he  again  advanced  with  some  troops.  The 
Khan  sent  the  regiment  of  Cashmir  in  pursuit  of  Berlas,  who  was  de- 
feated; and,  on  his  retreat  to  Chorassan,  he  was  assassinated  by  rob- 
bers.   Timur  punished  the  assassins. 

A  prince  of  distinction,  fine  genius,  and  prudence,  named  Mir  Ha- 
med,  who  was  in  favour  with  the  Khan,  and  the  friend  of  Timur,  pro- 
cured his  invitation  to  the  court  at  Samarcand.    Timur  was  received 


*  The  portrait  in  this  volume  is  from  an  Indian  drawing  in  the  possession  of 
the  writer.    Timur  was  sixty-three  years  of  age  when  at  Delhi. 

t  See  Purchas,  Vol.  L  p.  424,  and  the  French  Editor's  Preface  to  Sherefeddin. 
The  reader  will  bear  in  mind,  throughout  this  life,  that  the  lion's  portrait  is  paint- 
ed principally  by  his  own  artist.  Sherefeddin,  however,  is  not  more  partial  than 
Timur's  enemies,  the  Turks  and  Arabs,  are  false  and  abusive.  His  history  is  the 
most  authentic  of  any.    See  Gibbon,  Ch.  LXV. 


TIMUR'S  HEROISM  IN  THE  DESERT. 

graciously,  and  confirmed  in  the  command  of  his  troops,  and  in  the 
sovereignty  of  Kesh. 

The  empire  having  submitted  to  the  authority  of  Togluc  Timur, 
the  Grand  Khan,  he  gave  the  government  of  the  country  to  his  son, 
Elias  Coga  Aglen ;  and  appointed  Bikidgek  and  other  lords  to  attend 
the  person  of  the  prince.  Timur  Bee,  on  account  of  his  wisdom,  had 
in  charge  the  principal  administration  of  the  affairs  of  state.  Bikid- 
gek, by  his  insolent  conduct,  and  opposition  to  the  commands  of  the 
Khan  himself,  caused  Timur  Bee  to  quit  Samarcand.  He  went  to  seek 
the  emir  Hussein,  and  at  last  met  him  in  the  desert  of  Kivac.  The  two 
princes  discovered  that  the  governor  of  that  district  designed  to  seize 
them  ;  on  which  they  departed  with  only  sixty  men.  Tekil,  the  go- 
vernor, pursued  them  with  a  thousand  horse,  and  overtook  them.  Ti- 
mur and  his  friends  defended  themselves  with  such  desperate  vigour 
and  heroism,  that  they  killed  or  wounded  all  their  assailants  except 
fifty;  by  which  their  own  party  was  reduced  to  seven.  Hussein 
rushed  full  speed  upon  Tekil,  and  was  surrounded,  when  Timur  cut 
in  amongst  them,  and  Hussein  disengaged  himself.  Tekil's  party  re- 
turned to  the  charge,  and  Hussein's  horse,  pierced  with  an  arrow,  fell 
under  him.  The  princess,  his  wife,  instantly  dismounted  and  brought 
him  her  horse.  Timur,  with  his  sword  in  one  hand  and  his  bow  in 
the  other,  was  in  a  moment  present,  and  shot  Tekil  in  the  face :  he 
fell  from  his  horse,  and  Timur  transfixed  him  to  the  earth  with  a  half- 
pike,  which  he  had  snatched  from  the  ground.  Thus  ended  the  perfi- 
dy and  ambition  of  Tekil. 

Timur  made  Hussein  remount  his  horse,  and  they  re-entered  the  de- 
sert. Three  of  the  seven  soldiers  left  them.  In  this  extremity,  they 
agreed,  for  safety,  to  separate,  that  they  might  not  be  known.  Timur 
went  forward  with  his  wife,  Turcan  Aga,  sister  of  Hussein;  and  only 
one  faithful  servant.    After  they  had  passed  the  desert,  they  were  sur- 


TIMUR'S  GREAT  DISTRESS.— HE  IS  WOUNDED  IN  THE  HAND.  113 

rounded  by  a  horde  of  Turcomans*,  Timur,  having  had  time  to  CHAP. 
hide  his  wife  in  a  pit,  rushed  on  them ;  when  one  of  them  knew  him,  k^^-^> 
and  instantly  apologized.  They  feasted  Timur,  who  next  day  pre- 
sented them  with  a  large  ruby,  and  some  embroidered  armour  of  great 
value.  The  chief  presented  Timur  with  three  horses,  and  gave  him 
Sarag  Coulangi  to  serve  him  as  a  guide.  In  this  condition  Timur 
went  to  join  Emir  Hussein,  who  had  taken  another  road.  After  they 
met,  they  got  off  their  horses,  and  passed  twelve  days  at  a  place  called 
Mahmoudi,  in  a  desert.  Here  they  were  discovered,  surprised,  and 
led  to  Macan,  where  Ali  Bei  imprisoned  them  sixty-two  days  in  a 
filthy  dark  chamber,  full  of  vermin.  Mehemed,  the  brother  of  Ali  Bei, 
warned  him  of  the  imprudence  of  treating  these  lords  with  so  much 
indignity;  when  he,  reluctantly,  gave  them  their  liberty,  a  poor  lean 
horse,  and  an  old  camel.  The  prince  of  Sandger,  hearing  of  his  friend 
Timur's  distress,  testified  his  sorrow,  and  sent  him  acceptable  succours. 
Emir  Hussein  now  departed  towards  Hirmen,  and  Timur  to  Kesh. 

Timur  and  Hussein  went  to  the  assistance  of  the  prince  of  Seistan : 
and  having  rendered  him  much  service,  on  their  return  they  met  a 
great  company  of  Seghzians,  with  whom  they  had  a  hot  encounter; 
when  Timur  was  dangerously  wounded  in  the  hand,  which  was  there- 
by lamed for  life  f . 

Timur  had  many  other  reverses  and  instances  of  success:  when  the  A.D.  1362. 

*  Turcomans  are  said  to  be  descended  from  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Turkes- 
tan.   See  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  II.  p.  423. 

f  "  And  when  I  saw  that  the  ruler  of  Seistan  fulfilled  not  his  engagements,  I 
was  without  remedy ;  and  I  advanced  towards  them  and  gave  them  battle.  And 
an  arrow  came  and  pierced  my  arm ;  and  another  arrow  came  upon  my  foot,  but 
in  the  end  I  obtained  the  victory  over  them.  And  when  I  saw  that  the  air  and  the 
water  of  that  country  suited  not  with  me,  I  departed  from  thence,  and  I  came 
back  to  Kurrumsur;  and  I  sojourned  in  that  land  for  two  months,  until  my 
wounds  were  healed."    Timur's  Institutes,  p.  49. 

Q 


1U 


TIMUR  IS  CROWNED  EMPEROR. 


CHAP.    Grand  Khan  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Elias  Coja.  Timur 
v^-y^^  and  Hussein,  being  joined  by  their  friends,  attacked  the  army  of  Elias 
and  defeated  it,  taking  the  king  and  many  princes  prisoners.  The 
king,  assisted  by  some  Turkish  soldiers,  who  knew  him,  escaped  to 
Gete. 

A.D.  1364.  Tamerlane  takes  Samarcand  without  resistance.  Cabulchah  Aglen, 
descended  from  Genghis,  was  elected  Grand  Khan.  At  the  battle  of  the 
Sloughs,  Tamerlane  is  defeated  by  the  king  of  the  Getes,  who  be- 
sieges Samarcand,  but  is  repulsed. 

The  Emir  Hussein  and  Tamerlane  quarrel — the  troops  of  the 
Emir  are  defeated — the  king  of  the  Getes  marches  to  Tashkund. 

A.D.  1367.  The  Emir  and  Tamerlane  are  reconciled  and  join  their  forces — Dis- 
sentions  arise  among  the  lords  in  the  army  of  the  Getes,  and  the  army 
retreats. 

A.D.  1369.  Timur  and  the  Emir  Hussein  were  again  at  enmity;  and  in  a  great 
battle,  the  latter  was  killed;  two  of  his  sons  were  burnt  and  their  ashes 
cast  into  the  air  *.  Others  fled  into  India,  where  they  perished. 
Four  of  the  princesses  of  his  seraglio  were  taken  into  that  of  Timur. 
Hussein's  treasures  were  seized,  and  his  country  of  Badackshan  sub- 
jected to  Tamerlane;  who  was,  now,  aged  thirty-four,  crowned  Em- 
peror of  Zagatai.  According  to  custom,  handfuls  of  gold  and  jewels 
were  showered  upon  his  head. 

*  "  And  there  was  relationship  between  me  and  Ameer  Hossein;  and  although 
I  treated  him  with  kindness,  he  was  not  my  friend ;  and  he  even  took  from  me 
the  country  of  Bullukh  and  the  castle  of  Shaudumaun.  And  I  also,  for  the  sake 
of  his  sister,  who  was  in  my  house,  regarded  it  not.  And  I  shewed  such  kind- 
ness unto  him,  that  the  Ameers,  who  were  in  a  state  of  enmity  with  me,  submitted 
to  my  authority.  But  Ameer  Hossein  still  acted  towards  me  with  treachery  and 
fraud,  and  sought  to  overthrow  me :  even  until  I  resolved  that  I  would  force  him 
to  submission  by  the  edge  of  the  sword."  "  And  by  experience  it  was  known  to 
me  that  a  wise  enemy  is  preferable  to  a  foolish  friend."  Timur's  Institutes,  p. 
87  and  327. 


KINGDOM  OF  CARISME  REDUCED  TIMUR'S  HAPPINESS.  115 

Timur  returns  from  Bale  to  Samarcand,  builds  a  castle  and  fortress,  CHAP. 

IV. 

and  makes  it  the  capital  of  his  empire :  where  vast  numbers  settled  «^-^/ 
under  his  moderate  and  just  government. 

After  many  years  passed  in  campaigns,  at  length,  the  kingdom  of  A.  D.  1387. 
Carisme  was  reduced,  and  Timur  returned  to  Samarcand.  Excited  by 
a  fatherly  love  to  his  children,  he  gave  orders  for  preparations  for  a 
nuptial  feast.  This  great  city  was  adorned  with  the  most  magnificent 
stuffs,  and  branched  candlesticks,  in  the  public  streets.  Spacious 
tents  were  prepared  in  the  Baghi  Behicht,  or  Garden  of  Paradise,  and 
the  ground  was  covered  with  the  richest  carpets,  adorned  with  pearls 
and  precious  stones.  The  Mirzas,  Mehemet  Sultan,  Pir  Mehemet, 
and  Shah  Rohk,  were  married  to  princesses  as  beautiful  as  Houris.  Me- 
hemet Sultan  was  installed  Grand  Khan  of  Zagatai :  and  thus  the 
crown  of  this  vast  empire  was  settled  in  Timur's  family.  The  Em- 
peror passed  the  winter  with  all  possible  felicity  and  contentment. 

Tocatmich  Khan*,  whom  Timur  had  placed  upon  the  throne  of  A.D.  1388. 
Capchac,  showed  marks  of  ingratitude,  insomuch  that  he  levied  a 
great  army,  composed  of  the  troops  of  Russia,  Circassia,  Bulgaria, 
Capchac,  Crim,  Caffa,  Elian,  Azac,  Bachgorod,  and  Muscovy.  Poets 
have  compared  this  army  to  the  leaves  f  of  the  thickest  trees,  or  drops 
of  rain  in  an  impetuous  storm.  The  Emperor  no  sooner  heard  of 
Tocatmich  having  taken  the  field,  than  he  marched  at  the  head  of  the 
troops  of  Samarcand  and  Kesh  J.  The  winter  was  so  cold  that  the 
men  were  almost  frozen  to  death. 

*  Often  spelt  Toctamish,  Touctummish. 
f  His  legions       *       *  * 

Thick  as  autumnal  leaves  that  strow  the  brooks 
Of  Valombrosa.  *       *       *     Paradise  Lost.  (See  note,  p.  119.) 
%  "  For  the  private  soldiers  I  ordained  that  on  an  expedition,  every  eighteen  men 
should  take  one  tent;  and  that  each  man  should  be  supplied  with  two  horses, 
a  bow  and  quiver  of  arrows,  with  a  sword,  a  saw,  an  axe,  an  awl ;  with  thread, 
ten  needles,  and  a  leathern  knapsack."    Institutes,  p.  295. 

Q  2 


116 


DEEP  SNOW. — BLOODY  BATTLE. 


CHAP.       Ilichmich  Aglen,  king  of  Carisme,  who  had  fled  to  Tocatmich,  com- 
*^>v~m*J  manded  his  army ;  and  now  arrived,  and  encamped  at  Ajouc  Zernouc, 
near  Cogende,  on  the  Sihon. 


Timur  resolved  to  give  him  battle.  The  lords  of  his  council  fell  on 
their  knees,  and  besought  him  to  wait  till  the  troops  of  the  provinces 
arrived:  but,  as  he  was  not  ignorant  of  the  proverb,  that  delays 
are  dangerous,  and  that  we  ought  never  to  put  off  till  to-morrow  what 
we  are  able  to  do  to-day,  their  remonstrance  was  useless. 

Timur  marched  with  the  household  troops.  The  snow  was  so  deep 
that  it  touched  the  horses'  bellies.  Mirza  Omar  Cheik,  with  the 
troops  of  Andecan,  joined  him.  A  detachment  was  sent  to  fall  on  the 
enemy's  rear,  and  prevent  their  flight.  The  next  sun-rising  discover- 
ed to  them  the  army  of  the  enemy.  Nothing  now  was  heard  but  the 
great  cry,  Siroun !  the  noise  of  kettle  drums,  the  clashing  of  scimitars, 
the  neighing  of  horses,  and  the  shouts  of  the  soldiers.  The  conflict 
was  terrible  and  bloody.  Timur  was  victorious.  The  enemy  fled; 
and  being  intercepted  by  the  detachment  at  the  rear,  and  pursued  by 
the  army,  they  were  surrounded;  and  no  quarter  being  given,  the 
slaughter  was  very  great.  The  celebrated  Airde  Birdi,  secretary  of 
state,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  instantly  made  himself  known,  to  save 
his  head.  He  was  conducted  to  Timur;  and,  informing  the  Emperor 
of  the  state  of  Tocatmich,  was  pardoned  and  received  into  favour*. 


A.D.  1389.  In  February,  Timur  decamped  and  marched  to  Samarcand.  In  the 
spring,  Capchac  was  again  invaded;  but  at  the  approach  of  Timur's 
army,  the  enemy  fled,  and  were  pursued  to  the  deserts.  The  army 
encamped  at  Alcouchoun,  a  village  in  Capchac.  The  Emperor  de- 
siring to  pursue  the  war  against  Tocatmish,  the  lords  of  his  council 
humbly  represented  the  better  policy  of  first  reducing  the  king  of  the 


The  secretaries  wrote  in  the  Tgurian  character. 


TIMUR'S  SICKNESS.— MARCH  TO  CAPCHAC.  117 

Getes.    The  Emperor,  convinced  by  their  reasoning,  consented;  and  ^HAP. 
the  army  marched  from  Alcouchoun  to  invade  the  countries  of  Kezer  s^-ymj 
Coja  Aglen,  king  of  the  Getes  and  Mogulistan,  and  of  prince  Anca- 
toura*. 

Timur,  in  the  autumn,  resolved  to  make  war  on  Capchac ;  and  set 
out  to  visit  the  tomb  of  Cheik  Maslahet,  both  from  a  religious  and  po- 
litical motive ;  in  order  to  accomplish  his  designs.  At  Tashkund  he 
lay  dangerously  sick  for  forty  days.  The  great  lords  were  seized  with 
consternation;  and  prayers  were  offered  to  the  Almighty.  People 
feared  that  his  sword  would  no  longer  be  able  to  protect  the  weak,  or 
keep  the  powerful  within  bounds :  that  houses  would  be  plundered, 
and  the  cloisters,  where  true  chastity  is  preserved,  would  be  broken 
open.  He  was  restored.  He  reviewed  his  army  and  put  it  in  order. 
He  distributed  all  the  silver  money  that  was  in  the  treasury  among  the 
soldiers. 

The  12th  of  Sefer,  the  sun  being  in  the  eighth  degree  of  Aquarius,  A.D.  1391. 
Timur  departed.  He  sent  away  all  the  ladies  except  his  favorite  Sul- 
taness  Tchulpan  Mule  Aga,  daughter  of  Hadgi  Bei,  prince  of  the 
Getes,  who  in  this  journey  had  the  honor  of  privately  conversing  with 
the  Emperor.  An  ambassador  arrived  from  Tocatmich,  king  of  Cap- 
chac, with  a  present  of  nine  horses  of  surprising  swiftness.  Timur 
accuses  the  king  of  ingratitude,  and  threatens  vengeance,  unless  the 
king  be  sincere;  in  which  case  he  must  send  Ali  Bei,  to  treat  with  his 
great  Emirs;  when  he  will  do  what  is  consistent  with  his  dignity  and 
the  present  conjuncture. 

The  army  marched  forward,  the  horses  were  fatigued,  and  water  was 
scarce;  on  the  9th  of  April,  they  encamped  at  Olouc  Tacf.  Timur 

*  For  an  account  of  this  invasion  of  Siberia,  see  Chap.  V. 
f  Or  Ulug  Tag.    This  must  be  the  Steppe  of  Ishim.    See  Explanation  of  the 
Map,  Flag,  No.  1. 


118 


GREAT  HUNT.— MOOSE  DEER. 


CHAP,    ascended  a  mountain,  and  saw  with  admiration  those  vast  plains,  which, 
IV. 

^r-^-^j  for  their  space  and  verdure,  resembled  the  sea.  He  ordered  a  stone 
obelisk  to  be  erected,  and  inscribed  the  day  on  which  Timur,  with  his 
army,  arrived  there,  as  a  lasting  monument  to  posterity.  They  cross- 
ed the  Ilanjouc,  which  runs  into  the  Tic,  and  arrived  at  Anacargou. — 
They  had  marched  four  months  from  Tashkund,  and  had  neither  met 
a  man,  nor  seen  any  cultivated  land.  Victuals  were  so  dear,  that  a 
sheep  sold  for  a  hundred  dinars  copeghi*.  Provisions  were  allotted 
with  economy,  and  a  general  hunt  ordered  for  two  days;  a  variety  of 
beasts  and  birds  were  chased.  Timur  slew  a  number  of  fawns,  ante- 
lopes, and  roebucks,  till  his  dinner  hour,  which  was  two  hours  and  a  half 
before  noon;  and  then  returned  to  his  tent.  The  soldiers  then  slew 
such  vast  numbers  that  they  selected  the  fat,  and  left  the  lean  animals : 
among  them  there  was  a  sort  of  stags  larger  than  buffaloes,  of  which 
they  killed  a  great  many.    They  had  never  seen  the  like  before. 


The  hunting  being  finished,  Timur  was  desirous  to  know  the  ex- 
act state  of  the  troops.  He  ordered  them  to  be  placed  by  tomans,  or 
ten  thousands,  and  squadrons ;  and  that  every  soldier  should  have  his 
lance,  war  club,  poignard,  leathern  buckler,  his  sabre  on  his  left  side, 
and  a  half  sabre  on  his  right;  and  that  their  horses  should  be  covered 
with  tiger  skins  f. 

The  Emperor  then  mounted  his  horse,  clothed  in  his  royal  robes : 
upon  his  head  was  a  golden  crown,  enriched  with  rubies ;  in  his  hand  a 
mace  of  gold,  the  top  of  it  shaped  like  an  ox's  head.  He  reviewed 
the  left  wing,  which  he  found  in  good  order:  he  passed  before  the  first 
rank,  which  was  composed  of  the  toman  of  Birdi  Bei.  This  general 
leaped  off  his  horse,  and  took  notice  to  Timur  of  the  looks,  stature, 

*  A  dinar  copeghi  is  above  six  shillings. 

t  The  tiger  skin  being  a  mark  of  distinction,  this  must  be  understood  as  allud- 
ing to  the  officers  only.  Tigers'  skins  are  much  esteemed.  Le  Blanc,  p.  159, 
says,  they  send  from  Samarcand  to  Casubi  in  Pegu  to  purchase  them. 


TIMUR  REVIEWS  HIS  VAST  ARMY. 


119 


armour,  and  address,  of  his  soldiers :  he  then  fell  on  his  knees  and  kiss-  CHAP. 

IV. 

ed  the  earth,  and  said — "  Let  all  the  world  be  obedient  to  Timur!  ^^^-^ 
Our  heads  and  our  lives  shall  always  be  ready  to  be  sacrificed  at  the 
feet  of  the  horse  of  his  Majesty!"  Timur  answered,  and  applauded 
the  Bei ;  wishing  that,  through  the  valour  of  this  brave  man,  and  those 
who  are  like  him,  the  empire  might  continue  always  flourishing.  The 
Emperor  examined  each  company  belonging  to  Birdi  Bei's  toman. — 
He  then  rode  towards  the  toman  of  Codadad  Hussein i,  and  found  their 
stature  and  equipment  to  his  satisfaction.  He  testified  his  friendship 
for  that  commander,  for  the  good  order  in  which  he  saw  his  toman. 

Cheik  Timour,  at  the  head  of  the  hazares  (corps  of  one  thousand) 
of  the  hord  of  Selduz,  came  next  in  order  of  battle :  these  were  armed 
with  bows  and  arrows,  scymitars,  clubs,  and  nets  to  catch  men.  Then 
followed  the  large  army  of  Omar  Cheik,  son  of  Timur,  and  prince  of 
Andecan,  whose  ensigns  were  all  displayed.  This  corps,  being  so  nu- 
merous, detained  the  Emperor  a  long  while.  The  prince  congratulat- 
ed his  majesty  on  the  extent  of  his  conquests.  The  Emperor  was 
lavish  in  the  praise  of  his  son,  and  said,  "  I  pray  God,  that  fortune  be 
at  your  disposal,  and  that  it  may  always  give  you  the  advantage  over 
your  enemies."  Timur  was  overjoyed,  and  advanced  to  the  tomans 
and  squadrons  of  Mahmoud  Khan,  the  Emir  Soliman  Shah,  and  Me- 
hemed  Sultan  Behadur  his  grandson,  and  surveyed  them  with  satisfac- 
tion. Two  days,  from  morning  till  evening,  were  required  for  this 
review.  The  guards  which  made  up  the  main  body ;  were  ranged  in 
hazares  and  tomans,  commanded  by  several  emirs  and  great  generals. 
Timur  applauded  their  exact  order;  and  all  admired  the  good  conduct 
of  the  invincible  Timur*. 


*  It  appears  highly  probable  that  Milton  has  taken  Timur  in  some  instances 
as  his  prototype  for  Satan.  The  allusions  to  Timur  and  Cyrus  in  the  Paradise 
Lost,  are  numerous.   I  find  in  Purchas,  Vol.  I.  p.  461.  3d  Edit,    "  Alhacen  Arabs 


120 


REMARK  ON  PARADISE  LOST. 


CHAP.       The  Emperor's  son  Mehemet,  on  his  knees,  asked  the  honour  of 
-^y-^/  commanding  the  scouts.    Timur  approved  his  zeal  at  so  tender  an 
age,  reminded  him  that  he  had  need  of  great  presence  of  mind,  a  strong 
constitution  and  perfect  activity,  in  an  employ,  on  which  the  security 
of  the  army  entirely  depended  f . 

hath  written  a liistorie  of  Timur,  now  extant  in  English."  This  is,  however,  a  book 
of  very  doubtful  authority,  as  the  author  describes  an  invasion  of  China  by  Timur. 
In  the  king  of  France's  Library,  No.  1499,  there  was  a  general  history  of  Asia, 
written  by  Bin  Abdallatif  of  Casbin,  in  the  Persian  language,  up  to  the  year  1514, 
which  had  been  translated  by  Monsieur  Gomin,  into  Latin ;  and  Thevenot,  his  un- 
cle, had  it  printed  ;  (this  must  mean  N.  M.  Thevenot,  keeper  of  the  king's  library. 
See  life  of  Genghis,  p.  413).  Sherefeddin,  whose  work  the  writer  has  principally 
made  use  of,  finished  his  life  of  Timur  in  1423,  and  Bin  Abdallatif,  his  country- 
man, no  doubt,  would  copy  from  it;  therefore  Milton,  at  any  rate,  had  the  means 
of  knowing  from  these  sources  the  particulars  of  Timur's  life.  The  translation 
by  Petis  de  la  Croix  was  published  many  years  after  Milton's  death,  which  was  in 
J674.  This  Petis  de  la  Croix  (son  of  the  author  of  the  life  of  Genghis  Khan,)  was 
born  in  1654,  and  his  history  of  Timur  was  not  finished  till  after  the  death  of  Col- 
bert, in  1683.  A  better  model  than  the  Destroying  Prince,  as  Timur  has  been 
called,  could  not  be  found. 


"  Ten  thousand  banners  rise  into  the  air 
With  orient  colours  waving :  with  them  rose 
A  forest  huge  of  spears  ;  and  thronging  helms 
Appear'd,  and  serried  shields  in  thick  array 
Of  depth  immeasurable.    *    *    *  * 
Advanc'd  in  view  they  stand,  a  horrid  front 
Of  dreadful  length  and  dazzling  arms,    *  * 
Awaiting  what  commands  their  mighty  chief 
Had  to  impose.    He  through  the  armed  files 
Darts  his  experienc'd  eye,  and  soon  traverse 
The  whole  battalion  views,  their  order  due, 
Then-  visages  and  stature.    *    *  * 
*    *    *    *    ^nd  now  his  heart 

Distends  with  pride."  Paradise  Lost.  Book  I. 

t  Here  he  had  need 

All  circumspection,  and  we  now  no  less 


TREMENDOUS  BATTLE  HIGH  IN  THE  NORTH 

The  prince,  with  some  great  emirs,  departed  on  the  24th  of  April ;  and 
for  two  days,  though  they  saw  many  fires,  they  met  not  with  one  per- 
son. A  Turcoman,  who  knew  those  deserts,  was  sent  out  in  another 
direction,  and  wandered  without  finding  any  one  for  some  days;  at 
length,  ten  men  in  armour  were  seen  to  enter  a  wood;  they  were  pur- 
sued, some  slain,  and  some  brought  to  the  Emperor. 

Timur  decamped,  and  on  the  11th  of  May  reached  the  river  Tic, 
which  runs  into  the  Caspian ;  and  on  the  17th  the  river  Yaik*.  There 
were  many  encounters  between  some  small  corps  which  advanced,  and 
superior  numbers  of  the  enemy;  in  one  of  which  the  emir  Acoutmer 
distinguished  himself  so  heroically  in  his  fall,  that  his  children  were 
exempted  from  punishment  for  crimes,  except  they  were  committed 
nine  times. 

The  army  continuing  to  advance,  had  now  arrived  so  far  towards 
the  pole,  that  the  morning  rays  appeared  in  the  east  before  the  sun 
was  entirely  set.  The  king  of  Capchac  still  retreated,  though  there 
were  daily  skirmishes  with  the  scouts,  who  always  avoided  fighting 
when  they  could ;  but  sought  to  surprise  those  of  Timur.  The  emir 
Omar  Cheik  was  sent  with  twenty  thousand  horse  to  seek  Tocatmish ; 
on  the  morrow  he  came  up  with  the  scouts.  Timur,  being  apprised 
of  this,  after  six  days  bad  weather,  ranged  his  army  in  seven  bodies, 
as  if  by  inspiration  from  God,  it  not  being  usual.  The  princes  and 
emirs  wore  coats  of  mail,  or  breast-plates  of  iron,  and  all  of  them 
polished  helmets.  * 

Choice  in  our  suffrage;  for,  on  whom  we  send,  r 
The  weight  of  all  and  our  last  hope  relies." 

Par.  Lost,  B.  II.  413. 
*  "  I  ordained  that  in  the  field,  each  of  the  twelve  select  emirs  should,  with 
twelve  thousand  horsemen  completely  armed,  for  the  space  of  one  day  and  one 
night,  when  marching  and  when  halting,  be  ready  upon  guard."    Institutes  of 
Timur,  p.  299. 


DEFEAT  OF  THE  KING  OF  CAPCHAC. 

Tocatraisli  Khan's  army  was  drawn  up  in  a  main  body  with  two  wings, 
and  completely  armed.  All  his  chief  commanders  were  of  the  imperial 
blood  of  Touschi,  or  of  other  illustrious  Moguls.  They  ranged  them- 
selves in  a  half  moon;  and  then  came  in  view.  The  Capchac  army 
outnumbered  that  of  the  Emperor. 

Timur  addressed  himself  to  God  by  prayer.  Having  remounted 
his  horse,  all  the  army  displayed  their  ensigns  and  standards,  crying 
out,  Alia  Akbar!  Souroon!  At  the  sound  of  kettle  drums  and  of  the 
terrible  trumpet,  (Kerrenai)  *,  the  battle  commenced.  Never  before 
was  there  so  great  a  confusion  between  heaven  and  earth f.  Both 
sides  began  with  half-pikes,  swords,  and  iron  clubs.  Tocatmish's 
left  wing  withstood  the  attack  bravely,  but  was  entirely  defeated. 
The  right  wing  was  overpowered.  Timur  had  routed  the  main  body; 
but  Tocatmish  traversed  Timur's  army  with  many  squadrons,  and  re- 
solved on  maintaining  his  ground. 

Timur,  being  informed  of  this,  went  after  him ;  and  at  sight  of  the 
imperial  standard,  Tocatmish,  in  despair,  fled.  His  generals  followed 
his  example;  and  in  the  pursuit,  there  was  a  terrible  slaughter:  for 
forty  leagues,  the  plains  were  covered  with  the  slain.  Thus  was  the 
ingratitude  of  the  king  of  Capchac  punished.  Timur  dismounting, 
fell  upon  his  face,  and  returned  thanks  to  the  King  of  kings  £.  Seven 

*  The  kerrenai,  or  great  trumpet,  was  fifteen  feet  in  length.  P.  de  la  Croix, 
p.  160. 

f  "  All  in  a  moment  through  the  gloom  were  seen 
Ten  thousand  banners  rise  into  the  air 
With  orient  colours  waving :    *    *  * 
Sonorous  metal  blowing  martial  sounds : 
At  which  the  universal  host  up  sent 
A  shout  that  tore  Hell's  concave,  and  beyond 

Frighted  the  reign  of  Chaos  and  old  Night."    Paradise  Lost,  B,  I. 

%  Timur,  in  his  Institutes,  says,  page  121,  "  The  design  which  I  formed  in  de- 
feating Toctumish  Khan,  was  this :  when  my  armies  were  weakened  by  a  pur- 


GRAND  TRIUMPHAL  FEAST  AT  SERAI,  ON  THE  VOLGA. 

out  of  every  ten  cavalry,  were  dispatched  to  destroy  the  conquered ; 
they  pursued  them  to  the  Volga,  and  upon  its  islands,  where  they  cut 
them  to  pieces,  not  being  able  to  cross  *.  The  women,  children,  and 
spoil  captured,  it  would  be  difficult  to  enumerate.  Three  princes  of 
the  blood  of  Touschi  sought  refuge  with  Timur,  who  gave  them  let- 
ters patent  to  govern  their  hords,  free  of  the  tax  called  "  Gan."  Two 
of  them  afterwards  revolted  f. 

Timur  returned  southward,  and  encamped  on  the  plain  Ourtoupa, 
on  the  bank  of  the  Volga,  remarkable  for  its  verdure  and  pure  air. 
His  camp  was  three  leagues  on  every  side,  and  the  imperial  throne 
was  fixed  in  his  tent.  All  the  camp  and  the  pavilions  were  ornament- 
ed, and  hung  with  curtains  of  brocade  covered  with  gold  flowers. 
Among  the  slaves  were  many  beautiful  girls;  some  were  retained  for 
the  Emperor's  seraglio:  and  five  thousand  of  the  finest  youths,  for 

suit  of  five  months  in  the  Dusht  of  Kipchauk,  famine  and  scarcity  were  very 
great  in  my  army,  even  so  that,  for  many  days,  my  people  lived  on  the  flesh  of  the 
beasts  of  the  forests,  and  on  the  eggs  of  the  birds  of  the  desert.  And  Toctumish 
Khan  with  an  army  more  numerous  than  the  ants  and  the  locusts,  came  upon  me, 
and  opposed  me  face  to  face.  And  my  people  were  an  hungered,  and  the  army  of 
Toctumish  Khan  were  full.  And  my  chiefs  and  my  ameers  set  not  their  hearts 
upon  battle  until  my  sons  and  grandsons  came,  and  kneeled  down  and  devoted  their 
lives  unto  me :  and  at  this  time  the  standard  bearer  of  Toctumish  plotted  secretly 
with  me.  And  I  found  that  it  was  good  that  I  should  assault  the  foe ;  and  that 
when  the  two  armies  were  engaged,  the  standard-bearer  of  Toctumish  Khan 
should  invert  his  standard.  And  when  the  flames  of  war  and  slaughter  ascended 
high,  I  commanded  that  the  tents  should  be  pitched,  and  that  they  should  prepare 
victuals.  And  at  this  time  the  standard  of  Toctumish  Khan  was  inverted ;  and 
Toctumish,  dismayed  and  confounded,  gave  the  tribe  of  Touschi  to  the  wind  of 
desolation,  and  turned  his  back  on  the  field  of  slaughter,  and  fled." 

*  The  Russians  perhaps  know  where  this  dreadful  battle  was  fought. 

t  "  And  I  uttered  execrations  upon  them,  because,  unmindful  of  that  which 
they  owed  to  their  lord,  they  had  thrown  aside  their  honour  and  their  duty,  and 
come  in  unto  me ;  I  said  to  myself,  what  fidelity  have  they  observed  to  their  liege 
lord?  what  fidelity  will  they  shew  unto  me?  Timur's  Institutes,"  p.  175. 

R  2 


123 


CHAP. 
IV. 


124  SICKNESS  OF  THE  EMPEROR.— HORSES  SACRIFICED. 

C^P-    posts  in  the  household.    The  plain  of  Ourtoupa  was  the  seat  of  the 

v^-v-*^  empire  of  Touschi*,  son  of  the  great  Genghis. 

A  solemn  and  magnificent  feast  was  prepared.  Meats  and  li- 
quors were  served  up  in  vessels  of  gold  and  jewels,  by  the  hands  of 
the  most  beautiful  of  the  women.  Timur's  handsomest  ladies  attended 
him;  and  each  lord  had  his  own,  with  the  cup  in  her  hand,  to  accompany 
the  voices  and  airs  of  the  musicians.  Songs  of  love  and  war  were 
sung,  and  to  the  tune  Rihava  was  performed  Fatehnama  Capchac, 
or  the  Triumph  of  Capchac.  Twenty-six  days  were  thus  passed  in 
pleasure  by  the  whole  army. 

Timur  returned  to  Samarcand,  where  he  was  received  with  great 
feastings  and  joy.    He  then  crossed  the  Sihon,  and  encamped  at 

A.D.  1392.  Tashkund,  in  the  plain  of  Barsin ;  where  the  army  from  Capchac  ar- 
rived after  a  campaign  of  eleven  months.  This  vast  plain  was  cover- 
ed with  the  flocks  and  other  prodigious  booty.  A  share  of  the  beautiful 
young  prisoners  of  both  sexes  was  given  to  the  imperial  family  and 
the  chief  nobility.  Mirza  Pir  Mehemet,  son  of  Gehanghir,  was  ap- 
pointed governor  of  the  country,  from  Gazna,  and  Cabul,  and  Candahar, 
to  the  Indies. 

A.D.  1393.  The  Emperor  departed  for  along  campaign.  When  he  was  at  Joui- 
May  25.  ^ez^  near  j5ocaraj  }ie  was  much  afflicted,  having  a  disorder  which  he 
had  concealed  a  long  time.  The  Empresses,  and  his  sons,  and  the 
best  Turkish  and  Arabian  physicians,  arrived  in  the  camp.  The  Al- 
coran was  read.  The  finest  horses  in  the  Imperial  stables  were  sa- 
crificed, and  presents  sent  to  the  tombs  of  the  great  Chieks.  God,  the 
only  true  physician,  restored  the  Emperor  to  health;  and  he  took 
horse  and  shewed  himself  to  his  people  on  the  20th  June. 

Timur,  with  a  vast  army,  took  Bagdat  from  the  Mogul  sovereign. 


*  Serai. 


BEAUTIFUL  COUNTRY.—HAPPY  BIRTH. 

125 

The  Emperor  remained  there  two  months.    In  this  expedition  Timur  CHAP, 
rode  twenty-seven  leagues  of  three  miles  each,  on  the  10th  October,  k^^-^j 
without  getting  off  his  horse.    The  army  suffered  excessively  from 
heat  and  thirst;  all  the  wines  in  the  city  were  seized,  and  cast  into  the 
Tigris. 

Timur  proceeded  to  Georgia,  where  he  was  joined  by  the  Imperial  Sept.  9. 
family.  On  the  26th  of  Chawal  the  army  arrived  at  Cars,  in  Georgia, 
where  the  Emperor  encamped  in  a  very  agreeable  plain  with  green 
meadows,  springs,  and  rivulets  of  water  as  clear  as  crystal,  shady 
groves,  delicious  fruit  trees,  variety  of  balsams  and  flowers,  and 
zephyrs,  so  charming  that  they  seemed  to  meet  together  to  receive 
the  greatest  Emperor  in  the  universe.  Timur's  troops  had  plundered 
all  those  of  a  different  religion,  who  would  not  submit;  his  sole  inten- 
tion in  this  war  being  God's  glory,  and  every  day  some  considerable 
blessing  was  showered  on  him.  At  this  happy  place  was  born  a  son 
to  Shah  Rohk,  at  which  the  court  and  army  were  transported  with 
joy.  The  physiognomy  of  the  infant  prognosticated  the  height  of 
grandeur  to  which  he  should  in  time  arrive,  as  his  horoscope  signified 
that  he  should  ascend  the  throne,  and  be  the  heir  of  his  father's  crown. 
Timur  testified  his  joy  by  presents  of  gold,  silver,  and  curious  stuffs. 
All  the  lords  of  the  court  spread  gold  and  precious  stones  upon,  the 
child.  Many  great  lords  were  elevated  to  considerable  posts,  and  de- 
livered the  poor  from  their  miseries ;  and  the  people  were  exempted 
from  taxes  for  a  whole  year.  The  skilful  astrologer,  Moulla  Abdallah 
Lessan  predicted  that  the  crown  would  for  ever  remain  in  the  family 
of  this  infant,  who  would  be  endowed  with  many  virtues :  and,  that  he 
might  have  for  his  patron  that  prophet  who  was  God's  chief  favorite, 
the  Emperor  ordered  him  to  be  called  Ibrahim  *  Sultan. 


Abraham. 


GRAND  ENCAMPMENT.— SPLENDID  THRONE. 

126 

CHAP.  Next  day  at  sun-rise  Timur  decamped,  and  the  tents  were  pitched 
^--v-^  in  the  plain  of  Minecgheul,  where  he  received  news  of  the  great  suc- 
cess of  the  emirs,  who  had  taken  many  strong  places  from  the  Chris- 
tians, and  were  on  their  return.  The  Emperor  gave  orders  for  solemn 
rejoicings  for  the  birth  of  his  grandchild.  They  provided  tents  and 
canopies,  which  they  adorned  with  the  most  magnificent  furniture  of 
all  Asia.  These  tents  took  up  two  leagues  of  ground :  that  for  the 
Emperor  was  under  a  canopy  supported  by  forty  pillars,  and  was  as 
spacious  as  a  palace;  in  the  middle  of  it  was  a  throne  so  ornamented 
with  precious  stones,  that  it  resembled  the  sun.  A  great  number  of 
the  most  beautiful  ladies  of  Asia  were  placed  on  each  side  of  the 
throne,  with  veils  of  cloth  of  gold  adorned  with  jewels.  At  length 
the  Emperor  ascended  and  seated  himself,  with  the  sceptre  in  his 
hand,  and  the  crown  upon  his  head  *.  The  music  was  placed  in  two 
rows;  the  vocal  on  the  right,  the  instrumental  on  the  left.  Nine 
chaoux,  of  handsome  mien,  well  equipped,  and  mounted  on  Arabian 
horses,  came  there  in  quality  of  stewards  of  the  feast;  having  dis- 
mounted, they  took  golden  wands  in  their  hands,  and  marched 
in  procession  before  the  dishes  which  were  served  up.  They  were 
followed  by  cup-bearers,  who  were  provided  with  crystal  bottles  and 
golden  cups  with  red  wine  of  Shiraz,  white  of  Mazanderan,  and  water 
as  clear  as  that  of  Kiosser's  f  fountain.  The  conversation  of  charming 
women,  whose  hair  hung  in  tresses  down  to  the  ground,  added  to  the 


*  "  High  on  a  throne  of  royal  state,  which  far 
Outshone  the  wealth  of  Ormus  and  of  Ind, 
Or  where  the  gorgeous  East  with  richest  hand 
Show'rs  on  her  kings  barbaric  pearl  and  gold, 
Satan  exalted  sat,  by  merit  rais'd 

To  that  bad  eminence."  Paradise  Lost,  B,  II. 

f  A  fountain  in  Mahomet's  paradise. 


STREETS  COVERED  WITH  SCARLET  CLOTH  AND  SATIN.  127 

lustre  of  this  illustrious  assembly.  The  mirzas,  emirs,  nevians  and  fo- 
reign lords  of  Iran  and  Touran,  from  India  unto  Greece,  partook  of  the 
diversions,  and  joined  with  the  Zagataians,  in  vows  for  the  prosperity 
of  the  Emperor  and  the  new  born  prince.  Then  Timur  chose  the 
princess  Touman  Aga,  who  was  as  wise  as  Balkis*,  and  as  illustrious 
as  Cadafaf,  to  be  governess  to  the  young  Mirza,  for  which  honour 
she  made  a  magnificent  banquet,  which  lasted  eight  days.  For  his 
governor,  Timur  appointed  the  Emir  Osman  Abbas,  whose  wife,  Sade- 
kin  Aga,  a  relation  of  the  Emperor,  was  selected  to  be  his  nurse. 

These  entertainments,  which  had  lasted  three  weeks,  being  over, 
Timur  went  and  encamped  upon  the  top  of  a  mountain.  The  em- 
presses, princesses,  and  all  the  court  ladies,  departed  for  Sultania,  where 
they  were  to  stay. 

Shah  Rohk  being  appointed  governor  of  Samarcand,  Timur  arfec-  Oct.  8, 
tionately  embraced  him  at  his  departure.  On  his  reaching  the  Ox- 
us,  the  inhabitants  in  great  numbers  met  their  illustrious  viceroy ;  and 
on  his  entry  into  Samarcand,  from  the  gate  Aferine  to  the  royal  palace, 
the  streets  were  hung  with  carpets,  and  the  ground  was  covered  with 
satin,  and  scarlet  cloth.  The  happy  people  thanked  God  for  giving 
them  a  prince  under  whom  the  weak  might  live  as  securely  as  the 
powerful. 

Timur's  zeal  for  religion  made  him  undertake  the  war  in  Georgia 
himself.  By  the  assistance  of  heaven,  (says  Sherefeddin),  he  vanquish- 
ed all  the  Christians  who  resisted,  whether  in  the  plains  or  in  the 
strong  castles  upon  the  mountains,  pillaging  the  country  and  putting 
to  the  sword  all  who  resisted.  Timur  marched  before  Teflis  and  en- 
camped  in  the  plain  of  Cheki, 


*  Solomon's  wife. 

t  Queen  of  the  Amazons:  the  Thalestris  of  Quintus  Curtius. 


128 


RAMPARTS  OF  ICE.— SERAI  BURNT. 


CHAP.       News  was  brought  to  the  Emperor  of  Toctamish  having  re-esta- 
blished  himself  in  Capchac,  and  made  irruptions  into  Timur's  domin- 
A.D.  1395.  *ons>  to  recover  tne  losses  of  his   great  defeat.     Timur  invades 


Mahmoudi,  Timur's  governor  of  Hadgi  Tercan  (Astrachan),  proved 
faithless  to  his  trust.  Notwithstanding  the  severity  of  the  winter  this 
year,  Timur  marched  to  that  place.  Hadgi  Tercan  is  defended  in  win- 
ter by  a  wall  built  of  ice,  upon  which  they  pour  water,  which  freezes, 
and  the  solid  rampart  is  then  as  good  as  one  of  brick :  there  are  gates 
constructed  to  enter  the  town.  The  governor  was  obliged  to  go  out 
to  meet  the  Emperor.  Timur  sent  the  governor  to  Serai,  under  the 
conduct  of  Mirza  Pir  Mehemet;  where,  according  to  orders  received, 
he  was  thrust  under  the  ice  of  the  Volga.  His  Majesty  ordered  the 
inhabitants,  the  cattle,  and  all  within  Astrachan,  to  be  expelled:  when 
the  town  was  razed. 

The  troops  of  Capchac  had  ruined  the  palace  of  Sultan  Cazan  Khan, 
near  Carchi,  in  Transoxiana;  to  revenge  which,  Timur  proceeded  to 
Serai,  the  capital  of  Capchac ;  ordered  out  the  inhabitants,  and  re- 
duced it  to  ashes.  The  severity  of  the  winter  produced  famine  in  the 
camp,  and  most  of  the  horses  perished.  All  the  countries  to  the  west 
and  north  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  were  brought  under  the  dominion  of 
Timur. 

The  towns  and  provinces  of  Oukec,  Madgiar,  Little  Russia,  Cir- 
cassia,  Bachgorod,  Azac,  Couban,  and  Alan  (between  Georgia  and  the 
Black  Sea)  had  been  sacked;  and  the  princes  had  given  assurance  of 
future  obedience. 

The  Emperor  now  marched  towards  Uchendge,  north-east  of  Tef- 


Russia*. 


*  See  note  on  Russia,  Ch  V.  with  a  full  description  of  a  famous  battle  in  which 
Timur  was  in  the  greatest  danger  of  being  killed  or  taken. 


TIMUR'S  JUSTICE.— THE  GOLDEN  AGE. 


129 


lis,  to  attack  the  Christians  there,  and  besieged  it.    Uchendge  fell. —    CHA P. 
The  garrison  was  put  to  the  sword,  their  bodies  piled  up,  and  the  v^-v-"^ 
country  ravaged.    Timur  pardoned  those  great  men  who  had  joined 
the  Christians  and  now  acknowledged  their  fault ;  exhorting  them  to 
make  war,  and  procure  all  the  advantages  which  can  be  expected  to 
the  mussulman  religion. 

Timur  returned  to  Samarcand.  The  empresses  showered  upon  his  July  30. 
head  gold  and  jewels,  and  presented  him  with  a  thousand  horses,  ca- 
parisoned with  bridles  and  harness  of  gold  and  precious  stones ;  and 
also  a  thousand  mules,  all  of  one  colour.  The  Emperor  was  received 
in  triumph ;  the  city  was  adorned  magnificently ;  and  the  streets  were 
covered  with  velvet,  satin,  silks,  and  carpets ;  which  the  horses  tram- 
pled upon  as  a  road.  The  Emperor  then  visited  the  tombs  of  the 
saints,  and  of  learned  and  illustrious  persons ;  he  gave  great  largesses 
to  the  santons,  who  took  care  of  them ;  and  alms  to  the  poor.  He 
distributed  his  booty.  He  sat  in  justice,  and  ordered  some  tyrants  to 
be  put  in  chains,  and  the  forked  branch  to  be  hung  round  their  necks. 
Some  were  put  to  death.  All  the  people  were  pleased  with  their 
Emperor's  equity;  and  stiled  his  reign — "  The  Golden  Age." 

The  magnificent  palace  of  Baghi  Chemal,  or  Garden  of  the  North,  A.D.  1397. 
was  now  built.  Mirza  Shah  Rohk,  Timurs  eldest  son,  was  appointed 
king  of  Khorassan.  Ambassadors  from  China  arrived  with  abun- 
dance of  curious  presents,  and  were  introduced  by  the  great  emirs. — 
After  delivering  their  credentials,  and  explaining  the  subject  of  their 
embassy,  they  returned  home. 

Timur  received  information  of  the  commotions  in  India;  and  that, 
since  the  death  of  Firoze  III.  the  nobles  had  seized  the  power  of  that 
state ;  and  that,  in  the  name  of  the  young  Mamood,  two  generals  divid- 
ed the  government,  one  at  Delhi,  and  the  other  at  Moultan.    The  Em- 


s 


ISO 


COMMOTIONS  IN  INDIA. 


CHAP,    peror  resolved  on  the  conquest  of  Hindostan*,  having  already,  in  or- 
^-p-v-^  der  to  root  out  the  infidels  of  China,  collected  the  troops  of  the  em- 
A.D.  1398.  pire.    The  Emperor  had,  in  his  army,  officers  and  soldiers  of  all  na- 
tions; but  the  commands  of  the  greatest  consequence  were  held  by 
Tartars. 

The  army  marched  forward,  and  crossed  the  Oxus,  to  destroy  the 
Guebres  of  India.  The  Alcoran  says — "  The  highest  dignity  man 
can  attain,  is  that  of  making  war,  in  person,  against  the  enemies  of  his 
religion."  Though  the  true  faith  was  written  upon  the  coins  of  India, 
the  greatest  part  of  the  inhabitants  were  idolaters. 

*  "  My  design  for  reducing  the  empire  of  Hindostan  was  this:  First,  to  disco- 
ver the  thoughts  of  my  sons  and  my  ameers,  I  demanded  counsel  of  them.  The 
prince,  Peer  Mahummud  Jehangheer  said — '  Behold,  with  the  gold  of  Hind,  we 
shall  become  the  conquerors  of  the  world.'  And  prince  Mahummud  Sooltaun 
spoke  and  said — '  We  may  subdue  Hind ;  yet  it  hath  many  ramparts,  rivers,  wil- 
dernesses, and  forests ;  soldiers  clad  in  armour ;  and  the  elephants,  destroyers  of 
men.'  The  prince  Shah  Rohk  said — 1 1  have  read  in  the  Toorki  annals  that  there 
are  five  mighty  kings,  whom,  because  of  their  greatness,  they  mention  not  by  their 
names.  For  behold  they  call  the  King  of  Hind,  Daurau;  and  the  King  of  Room, 
they  call  Keesur;  and  the  King  of  Khuttun,  and  Cheen,  and  Maucheen,  they 
stile  Fughfoor ;  and  they  call  the  King  of  Toorkistaun,  Khaukaun ;  and  they  call 
the  Lord  of  Eraun  and  Tooraun,  King  of  Kings.  Andlo!  the  power  of  the  King  of 
Kings  hath  in  all  times  been  over  the  empire  of  Hindostan,  and  it  hehoveth  us,  also,  to 
conquer  Hindostan. '  The  ameers  said — '  We  may  subdue  Hind,  but  if  we  tarry 
in  that  land,  our  posterity  will  degenerate  from  the  vigour  of  their  forefathers. ' 
And  I  had  resolved,  and  was  loth  to  desist,  and  I  answered  them,  saying, — '  I  will 
turn  to  Almighty  God,  and  I  will  seek  the  sign  of  war  in  the  Koraun,  that  what- 
ever be  the  will  of  God,  that  I  may  do. '  And  they  all  consented  thereto.  And 
when  I  sought  an  omen  in  the  holy  book,  this  sacred  verse  came  forth, — 'O  Pro- 
phet !  fight  tvith  the  infidels  and  unbelievers.''  And  when  the  doctors  of  the  law 
explained  the  verse  to  the  ameers,  they  hung  down  their  heads  and  were  silent. 
And  my  heart  was  grieved  at  their  silence.  And  I  deliberated  with  myself  if  I 
should  throw  them  down  from  their  commands.  But,  since  I  myself  had  exalted 
them,  I  treated  them  with  kindness ;  and  although  they  had  angered  me,  yet,  as 
they  were  unanimous  at  last,  I  regarded  it  not."    Timur's  Institutes,  p.  131. 


IMMENSE  RICHES. — AN  ARROW  SHOT  AT  TIMUR. 

Timur  and  his  troops  suffered,  in  the  mountains  of  Badachshan,  from 
cold,  rocky  passes,  and  independent  tribes,  with  whom  there  was 
much  fighting.  The  Emperor  was  let  down  the  side  of  a  steep  moun- 
tain on  a  platform,  by  ropes  a  hundred  and  fifty  cubits  long.  Timur 
encamped  near  Cabul,  and  ordered  a  canal  to  be  dug,  five  leagues  in 
length. 

Two  princes  from  Capchac,  and  one  from  Gete,  arrived  in  the 
camp,  to  assure  Timur  that,  for  the  future,  he  might  depend  on  their 
obedience. 

Taizi  Aglen,  who  had  differences  with  the  Khan  of  Olugyourt,  fled 
from  the  kingdom  of  Calmac,  to  lay  himself  at  the  Emperor's  feet.— 
Timur  embraced  him,  and  presented  him  with  a  vest  woven  with  gold, 
a  belt  with  precious  stones,  camels,  pavilions,  &c. 

Cheik  Noureddin  also  arrived,  who  had  been  left  by  Timur  in  Per- 
sia, to  receive  the  revenues.  He  brought  an  immense  treasure  in 
jewels,  gold  coin,  gold  stuffs,  belts  of  precious  stones,  Arabian  horses 
with  golden  saddles,  camels,  mules,  pavilions,  curtains  of  scarlet,  leo- 
pards, birds  of  prey,  and  other  animals  for  the  chace.  So  great  a 
quantity  was  there,  that  the  comptrollers  of  the  divan  were  three  days 
and  nights  employed  in  registering  the  whole  of  it.  Several  princes 
of  the  race  of  Genghis  were  astonished  at  the  sight  of  such  wealth. 

The  ambassadors  were  now  dismissed  with  rich  presents.  The 
left  wing  was  sent  forward  to  India.  The  Emperor  marched  and  en- 
camped at  Irjab*. 

Timur  being  on  horseback,  accompanied  by  his  generals  on  foot, 
while  he  was  viewing  the  place,  was  shot  at  with  an  arrow  from  a  win- 

*  "  And  behold  the  whole  of  my  army  was  ninety-two  thousand  horsemen,  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  the  names  of  Mahummud,  the  prophet  of  God ;  and  I 
took  this  number  as  a  fortunate  and  happy  omen."    Timur's  Inst.  p.  135. 

S2 


132  TIMUR  CROSSES  THE  INDUS. 

CHAP,  dow,  which  missed  him:  but  the  whizzing  of  the  arrow  startled  his 
v-*»--v~^  horse.  The  assassins  were  taken  and  put  to  death.  The  prince  of 
the  town,  who  had  been  a  great  tyrant,  was  beheaded,  and  his  goods 
and  moveables  were  given  to  the  poor. 
Oct.  7.  His  Majesty  arrived  at  the  Indus,  at  the  spot  whence  Gelaleddin 
had  fled  from  the  wrath  of  Genghis  Khan*.  A  bridge  of  boats  and 
reeds  was  finished  in  two  days.  Timur  dismissed  the  ambassadors  of 
Mecca,  Medina,  and  the  cheriffs  of  Arabia.  Eskender  Shah,  prince 
of  Cashmere,  sent  to  beseech  his  majesty  to  receive  him  on  his  obedi- 
ence. Timur  desired  that  he  would  come  to  his  camp,  when  at  Di- 
balpour. 

Oct.  11.  The  Emperor  crossed  the  Indus  and  encamped  at  the  entrance  of 
the  desert  Gerou,  called  Tchol  Gelali  (from  Gelaleddin).  The  rajas 
and  others  offered  their  submission  with  promises  of  money.  As  they 
had  been  very  serviceable  to  the  detachment  at  Moultan,  they  were 
treated  with  kindness.  An  isle  in  the  river  Jamad  was  attacked;  a 
toman  conquered  it,  after  hard  fighting. 

The  army  marched  to  where  the  Jamad  and  Genave  join  in  one 
stream,  all  the  troops  were  employed  in  making  a  bridge  over  it,  which 
was  never  done  before.    The  army  crossed  and  encamped  thirty-five 

Oct.  29.  miles  from  Moultanf.  Camp  at  Toulonba:  The  inhabitants  (the  che- 
riffs excepted)  taxed  at  two  millions  of  crowns.  Part  is  paid ;  the  na- 
tives revolt ;  two  thousand  are  slain. 

Nov.  5.     Camp  at  Chanavaz,  near  a  lake. 

The  Mirza  at  Moultan  had  lost  nearly  all  his  horse  by  the  inunda- 
tions and  a  famine.  Succours  are  sent  to  him  by  Timur.  Bend  and 
Batnir  taken,  and  the  inhabitants  slain. 


*  Attock. 

f  Major  Rennel  has  accurately  traced  Timur's  march  (Memoir,  p.  84).  The 
above  is  Sherefeddin's  description. 


DREADFUL  MASSACRE.  133 

The  army  arrived  at  Paniput.    The  inhabitants  fled.    There  was 

found  here  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  maunds,  common  weight,  k-*-v-«w> 

Nov.  21. 

of  wheat.    The  army  arrived  near  to  Delhi.    While  Timur  was  sur-  -^ov]  %g] 
veying  the  magnificent  palace  of  Gehannumai,  he  discovered  nine 
thousand  of  the  enemy  and  twenty-seven  elephants.    They  were  at- 
tacked, and  fled;  one  elephant  fell. 

The  army  encamped,  and  was  harangued  by  the  Emperor.  Some 
generals  represented,  that  a  hundred  thousand  prisoners,  idolaters, 
were  in  the  camp;  who,  in  case  of  a  battle,  might  join  the  enemy; 
they  having  been  greatly  pleased  when  they  saw  the  troops  with  the 
twenty-seven  elephants  approach.  Timur  reflected  seriously  on  this  ; 
and  ordered  that  all  those  who  had  made  slaves,  should  put  them  to 
death;  or,  who  disobeyed,  should  himself  suffer  death,  and  his  family 
be  given  to  the  informer.  In  one  terrible  hour,  according  to  the 
smallest  computation,  a  hundred  thousand  Indians  were  massacred. — 
Even  the  venerable  and  humane  Moulava  Nassereddin  Amor,  was 
constrained  to  order  fifteen  slaves  to  be  slain. 

A  tenth  part  of  the  army  guarded  the  women,  children,  and  camels. 
Timur  crossed  the  river,  encamped  the  army,  and  surrounded  it  with 
a  rampart  of  bucklers  and  a  ditch.  Great  buffaloes  were  tied  together 
by  the  neck  and  feet,  with  brambles  upon  their  heads,  to  be  set  fire  to 
on  occasion  should  the  elephants  approach ;  but  this  was  not  needed. 
Timur  drew  up  his  army  in  order  of  battle.  He  commanded  the  main  Jan.  3. 
body :  they  marched.  The  enemy  advanced  in  order,  the  centre  was 
commanded  by  Mahmoud,  grandson  of  the  late  Emperor  Ferose,  and 
his  lieutenant-general,  Mellou  Khan.  His  force  consisted  of  ten 
thousand  horse,  forty  thousand  foot,  and  elephants  armed  with  cuiras- 
ses and  poisoned  daggers  upon  their  tusks.  They  had  wooden  tow- 
ers upon  their  backs,  in  the  form  of  bastions,  in  which  were  cross-bow- 
men and  archers,  who  could  fight  under  cover.    On  the  side  of  the 


134  DEFEAT  AND  FLIGHT  OE  THE  EMPEROR  MAHMOUD. 

CHAP,    elephants  were  flingers  of  fire  and  melted  pitch;  and  rockets  shod 
y^y«».1  with  iron,  which  give  repeated  blows  where  they  fall.    The  soldiers 
feared  the  elephants  might  fling  them  into  the  air.    The  learned  doc- 
tors wished  to  be  placed  near  where  the  ladies  were,  if  his  Majesty 
pleased. 

Timur  fell  upon  the  earth  and  besought  God  to  give  him  the  victo- 
ry. The  battle  began  with  the  frightful  noise  of  brass  kettle-drums 
upon  the  elephants'  backs,  loud  cymbals  and  bells,  trumpets,  and  cries 
of  the  soldiers ;  so  that  even  the  most  dauntless  were  somewhat  dis- 
mayed. The  enemy's  left  wing  was  thrown  into  disorder  by  their  ele- 
phants. Their  right  wing  was  repulsed.  The  centre  attacked  Timur, 
and  was  so  warmly  received,  that  many  elephants'  trunks  were  cut  off 
with  sabres,  and  were  strewed  over  the  field  with  the  slain.  Mah- 
moud  and  Mellou  Khan  fled  into  Delhi  and  shut  the  gates.  Calil  Sul- 
tan, Timur's  grandson,  only  fifteen  years  of  age,  wounded  an  elephant, 
the  men  on  his  back  were  overthrown,  and  the  youth  drove  the  animal 
before  him  into  the  camp :  at  sight  of  which  Timur  was  affected  to 
tears,  for  joy  that  God  had  given  him  such  brave  children,  and  such 
valiant  subjects.  Sultan  Mahmoud  and  Mellou  Khan  departed  from 
the  city  at  midnight  and  fled;  the  first  to  Guzzerat,  the  other  to 
Berren. 

Jan.  4th.  Timur  planted  his  standard  upon  the  walls  of  Delhi.  At  the  gate, 
he  sat  on  the  throne  of  the  Indian  Monarch,  gave  audience,  and  re- 
ceived the  submission  of  the  principal  persons.  A  hundred  and 
twenty  elephants,  and  twelve  rhinoceroses  were  brought  before  Ti- 
mur ;  and  having  been  trained  for  such  purposes,  they  placed  them- 
selves in  a  humble  posture,  and  made  a  cry  as  if  demanding  quarter. 
These  were  war  or  chain  elephants,  and  were  sent  to  Samarcand,  and 
some  to  the  provinces,  as  presents ;  two  to  Tauris,  five  to  Herat,  one 
to  Shiraz,  one  to  Shirvan,  and  one  to  Arzendgian. 


SACK  OF  DELHI. — MASSACRE.— DESOLATION. 


135 


The  prayers  in  the  mosques  were  ordered  to  be  said  in  the  name  of 


CHAP. 
IV. 


Timur,  and  the  rigours  of  war  were  for  some  days  forgotten  in  feast- 
ings,  music,  and  rejoicings,  during  which  Timur's  soldiers  insulted  the 
inhabitants  in  the  suburbs. 

The  sultanesses  entered  Delhi  to  inspect  the  curiosities,  and  the 
famous  palace  of  the  ancient  Indian  king  Melee  Jound ;  the  court  at- 
tending them  was  numerous,  and  about  fifteen  thousand  soldiers  enter- 
ed unperceived.  The  disorders  committed  were  great ;  and  the  natives, 
driven  to  despair,  set  fire  to  their  houses  and  burnt  their  families  in 
the  conflagration.  The  soldiers  let  in  the  army,  and  the  emirs  lost  all 
control  over  their  fury ;  so  that  this  great  and  proud  city  was  sacked 
and  desolated  by  a  horrid  massacre. 

The  next  day,  some  of  the  soldiers  took  each  one  hundred  and  fifty    jan>  13, 
slaves,  men,  women,  and  children :  and  carried  them  out  of  the  city. 
Even  the  soldiers'  boys  had  twenty  slaves  to  their  share.  Pearls, 
diamonds,  rubies,  stuffs,  belts,  gold  and  silver  vessels,  money  and 
curiosities  were  seized  by  the  soldiers  in  vast  quantities. 

Old  Delhi  underwent  the  same  fate.  The  Indians  assembled  in  a  Jan.  15. 
great  mosque  to  defend  themselves :  but  the  Emir  Shamelik  and  Ali 
Sultan  Tavachi,  forced  it  open  with  five  hundred  soldiers,  and  sent  to 
the  abyss  of  hell  the  souls  of  these  infidels,  erected  a  pile  with  their 
heads,  and  cast  their  bodies  to  the  beasts  and  birds  of  prey  *,  such 
terrible  slaughter  and  desolation  were  never  heard  of.  Every  emir 
took  a  number  of  slaves  for  his  service:  and  several  thousand  trades- 
men and  artists  were  distributed  among  the  princes.  Others  were 
sent  to  the  nobility  of  the  respective  provinces.    The  Emperor  re- 

*  These  massacres  are  considered  by  fanatics  as  a  virtue.  Timur's  descend- 
ants, however,  attempt  some  explanation,  to  exculpate  him.  See  Dow's  Hindos- 
tan,  Vol.  II.  p.  9. 


136 


TWENTY  BATTLES  TIMUR  IS  MUCH  OPPRESSED. 


CHAP,    served  for  himself  all  the  masons,  to  build  a  spacious  stone  mosque 
at  Samarcand. 


Jan.  18.  Timur  having  been  fifteen  days  at  Delhi,  at  ten  in  the  morning 
marched  to  Firouse-Abad,  three  miles.  He  admired  that  delightful 
place,  and  visited  the  mosque,  to  return  thanks  to  God  for  his  con- 
quest. 

Two  white  parrots,  which  had  many  years  been  kept  in  the  anti- 
chambers  of  the  Indian  Emperors,  were  presented  to  Timur,  which  he 
received,  and  considered  as  a  good  augury. 


There  was  much  opposition  made  to  Timur,  in  several  places.  He 
became  oppressed  with  illness  and  want  of  rest :  twenty  battles  were 
fought  in  thirty  days. 

Ambassadors  arrived  from  the  king  of  Cashmere.  The  divan  had 
taxed  that  king  thirty  thousand  horses,  and  one  hundred  thousand 
dirests  of  gold ;  but  Timur  found  this  demand  too  much  for  that  little 
kingdom,  and  did  not  press  it  to  such  extent,  being  satisfied  with  the 
conduct  of  Chah  Eskender.  Timur  sent  him  a  present  of  ten  ele- 
phants *. 


March  15.  The  king  of  Tchamou  was  taken  prisoner.  He  was  treated  with 
respect,  and  instructed  in  the  beauties  of  the  Mahomedan  religion; 
he  therefore  quitted  his  errors,  declared  his  belief  in  the  unity  of  God, 
and  ate  the  flesh  of  oxen  with  the  mussulmans. 

March  19.  Lahore  was  taken,  and  taxed  for  the  redeeming  of  the  lives  of  the 
inhabitants.  Chicai  Couker  was  taken  prisoner.  This  prince  had 
accompanied  Timur,  but  on  his  return  to  Lahore  was  wanting  in  the 
performance  of  his  promises  and  the  respect  he  had  professed ;  on 
which,  his  country  was  pillaged  and  his  person  seized  f .    Timur  be- 


*  Ayeen  Akbery,  Vol.  II.  p.  152. 

f  Dow,  Vol.  II.  p.  11,  says,  he  was  beheaded;  which  is  exceedingly  probable. 


THE  LORDS  OF  HINDOSTAN  RESTORED  TO  POWER. 


137 


ing  an  enemy  to  deception,  had  adopted  this  motto  for  his  seal:  CHAP. 
<l  Safety  consists  in  fair  dealing."  ^-v-*^ 

Officers  arrived  from  Tauris,  with  an  account  of  the  affairs  of  Bagdat,  March  20. 
Egypt,  Syria,  Anatolia,  and  Capchac.  The  generals  arrived  in  camp 
from  Lahore,  and  laid  at  Timur's  feet  many  rich  presents ;  of  each  kind 
by  the  number  of  nine,  as  is  customary.  Timur  now  made  arrange- 
ments for  returning  to  Samarcand.  He  distributed  presents  to  the 
emirs,  and  to  the  lords  of  Hindostan,  whom  he  sent  to  their  respec- 
tive countries,  with  his  letters  patent  for  their  principalities. 

The  camp  being  at  Gibhan  on  the  frontier  of  Cashmir,  Timur  or-  March  24. 
dered  a  general  hunting  circle,  and  enjoyed  that  sport  in  this  delightful 
place.  There  were  lions,  leopards,  rhinoceroses,  unicorns, \A\xe  stags,  wild 
peacocks,  parrots,  and  other  animals.  The  falcons  and  hawks  destroy- 
ed all  the  peacocks,  pheasants,  parrots,  and  ducks.  The  soldiers  took 
a  great  deal  of  game,  and  slew  several  rhinoceroses  with  their  sabres 
and  lances  *.  The  oranges  and  citrons  do  not  come  to  maturity,  on 
account  of  the  snow.  The  air  and  water  are  delicious;  the  women 
very  beautiful.  The  prince  and  court  reside  at  Nagaz,  in  which  there 
are  seven  bridges  of  boats  over  the  river,  which  is  as  large  as  the 
Tigris.  God  has  given  this  country  natural  defences :  the  roads  unto 
it  from  Chorassan  and  from  India  being  excessively  difficult;  and 
that  from  Thibet  having  so  many  poisonous  herbs,  that  the  horses 
who  eat  of  them  die,  the  inhabitants  have  no  occasion  for  arms  or 
armies. 

Timur  crossed  the  Indus,  and  encamped  at  Banou.    His  majesty  March  29. 
was  struck  by  some  evil  eye:   upon  his  feet  and  hands  were  pain- 
ful ulcers.    The  officers  of  his  household  carried  him,  in  a  litter,  April  8. 

*  The  blue  stags  were  Nyl-gaus  :  respecting  the  unicorns,  see  Chap.  XI.  the 
last  note. 


138  SHOWERS  OF  PRECIOUS  STONES. — GRAND  MOSQUE. 

through  a  narrow  defile,  in  which  they  were  obliged  to  cross  a  river 
forty-eight  times. 

The  empresses,  princes,  and  great  lords  met  the  Emperor  at  Ter- 
med, and  he  arrived  at  Samarcand  on  the  16th  of  May. 
May  16.  The  feastings  and  mutual  presents  were  immense,  and  the  em- 
presses, princes  of  the  blood,  dukes,  and  foreign  princes,  showered  so 
many  precious  stones  upon  his  majesty,  that  it  seemed  as  if  the  sands 
had  been  transformed  into  them. 
May  28.  Timur,  to  crown  his  merits  with  a  work  of  piety,  having  destroyed 
the  temples  of  false  Gods  and  exterminated  the  idolaters,  resolved  to 
build  a  great  mosque.  Two  hundred  masons  from  Azerbijan,  Persia, 
and  India,  were  occupied  in  the  inside,  and  five  hundred  men  in  cut- 
ting stone  in  the  mountains.  Ninety-five  elephants  were  employed 
in  drawing  the  stones  upon  machines  made  according  to  the  laws  of 
mechanics.  The  mosque  being  finished,  contained  four  hundred  and 
eighty  pillars  of  hewn  stone,  seven  cubits  high ;  the  arched  roof  was  of 
marble,  neatly  carved  and  polished.  From  the  architrave  of  the  entab- 
lature to  the  top  of  the  roof  was  nine  cubits ;  at  each  corner  outside 
was  a  minaret ;  the  doors  were  of  brass ;  and  the  walls  without  and 
within,  and  the  arches  of  the  roof,  were  adorned,  in  relievo,  with  the 
chapter  of  the  Cavern  and  other  passages  of  the  Alcoran.  The  pul- 
pit and  reading  desk,  where  prayers  for  the  Emperor  were  read,  were 
of  the  utmost  magnificence ;  and  the  nich  of  the  altar  was  covered 
with  plates  of  iron  gilt,  and  was  of  perfect  beauty.  Not  one  moment 
had  been  lost  in  finishing  this  stupendous^building  f. 


f  "  Anon,  out  of  the  earth  a  fabric  huge 
Rose  like  an  exhalation,       *       *  * 
Built  like  a  temple,  where  pilasters  round 
Were  set ;       *       *       *  * 
*       *       *       nor  did  there  want 


FOUR  MONARCHS  DIE. — BEAUTIFUL  MOGUL  WOMEN.  139 

Some  months  after  Timur  returned  to  Samareand,  he  received  CI*yP' 
accounts  of  the  debaucheries,  extravagance,  and  lunatic  conduct  of  his  v^-v-^ 
son  Mirza  Miram  Chah,  viceroy  of  Media:  on  which  he  found  it  neces-  AD* 
sary  to  take  the  field  again.    He  issued  orders  that  all  the  prince's 
profligate  favorites,  who  had  instigated  him  to  his  evil  conduct,  should  Oct.  1 1 . 
be  hanged,  without  exception,  as  a  warning  to  others. 

When  the  encampment  was  at  Carubagh,  news  arrived  of  the  death 
of  the  Khan  of  Capchac,  of  the  death  of  the  Sultan  of  Egypt,  and  of 
a  civil  war  in  that  country;  of  the  decease  of  the  Emperor  of  China, 
and  of  great  confusion  in  that  empire;  and  that  the  king  of  Gete  had 
also  paid  tribute  to  the  angel  Israel,  which  had  caused  dissension 
amongst  his  four  sons. 

Intelligence  was  received  of  Mirza  Eskender,  aged  only  fifteen 
years,  having  marched  with  his  emirs  and  his  army  from  Andecan; 
and  that  he  had  utterly  defeated  the  Moguls  in  Mogulistan.  The 
prince  had  been  joined  by  the  emirs  at  Cashgar ;  they  advanced  and 
ravaged  Yarkand,  Tchartac,  Keiouc  Bagh,  and  the  province  of  Aoudge; 
they  took  the  citadel  of  Ascou,  consisting  of  three  strong  castles, 
which  required  sapping,  battering  rams,  and  many  assaults  with 
scaling  ladders.  They  released  some  Chinese  merchants,  who  had 
been  shut  up  there.  They  suddenly  invaded  Bei  and  Cousan,  and 
brought  away  captive  the  princess,  wife  of  Emir  Kezre  Chah,  her 
daughter,  and  other  ladies ;  and  pillaged  the  town  of  Tarem.  They 


Cornice  or  frieze,  with  bossy  sculptures  graven ; 

*       *       *       and  straight  the  doors 

Opening  their  brazen  folds.  "        Par.  Lost,  B.  I.  1.  710. 

There  are  two  cubits,  one  is  called  large  measure,  in  the  architecture  of  Baila- 
can  (a  few  pages  forward).  In  Chap.  I.  the  Sultan  of  Carisme  exclaims,  that 
of  his  immense  kingdom,  he  has  but  tivo  cubits  left  for  his  body.  The  writer  has 
not  been  able  to  find  out  the  length  of  the  large  cubit. 

T2 


140 


DREADFUL  FANATICISM. 


CHAP,  proceeded  to  Choten  and  the  mountain  Carangoutac;  from  hence 
**>~l^-**j  were  sent  two  companies,  of  nine  each,  of  the  most  beautiful  Mogul 

young  women  to  the  Emperor,  by  Chiek  Yasaoul ;  when  the  army 

returned  to  Cashgar. 


The  Emperor  advanced  towards  Georgia,  to  make  a  holy  war,  in  obe- 
dience to  the  Alcoran,  on  all  who  disbelieved  the  mussulman  religion  *. 
Through  the  defile  of  Comcha,  which  was  full  of  trees,  the  soldiers, 
with  their  saws  and  axes,  cleared  a  road  ten  days'  journey  in  length, 
and  broad  enough  for  five  companies  to  march  abreast.  It  snowed 
for  twenty  days,  but  the  fields  became  as  red  with  the  blood  of  the  infi- 
dels as  if  sown  with  tulips ;  no  quarter  being  given  to  any  who  were 
found.  Comcha,  the  chief  of  those  who  disbelieve  in  future  judgment, 
abandoned  his  effects  and  fled. 

Wine  was  absolutely  necessary  for  this  people ;  even  the  little  chil- 
dren drank  it ;  and  on  their  death-beds  they  entreated  that  some  might 
be  buried  in  their  tombs  with  them,  and  their  coffins  be  made  of  the 
vine  tree.  For  this  consideration,  the  troops  rooted  up  and  destroyed 
the  vines,  and  razed  their  temples,  which  were  so  disagreeable  to  God. 
This  being  what  Timur  had  done  last  year  at  Delhi,  he  had,  as  the 
poet  says,  one  foot  on  the  frontiers  of  India,  and  the  other  on  the  west- 
ern limit  of  Arranf . 

The  cold  and  snow  being  great,  and  the  horses  reduced  to  feed  on 

*  "  And  I  determined  on  that  measure,  which  was  agreeable  to  my  soldiers. 
And  I  placed  a  helmet  of  steel  upon  my  head,  and  I  clothed  myself  in  the 
armour  of  Dauood  (David),  and  I  hung  a  scimitar  of  Missur  (Egypt)  by  my  side, 
and  I  sat  on  the  throne  of  war."  Timur's  Institutes,  p.  143.  Ipocrates,  the  Christ- 
ian king  of  Teflis,  Timur's  prisoner,  had  turned  mussulman,  and  had  given  Timur 
a  suit  of  armour,  which  he  pretended  the  king  of  Israel  had  forged  with  his  own 
hands  in  a  smith's  shop. 

t  To  the  warlike  resemblance  to  Genghis  Khan,  Timur  added  the  horrid 
fanaticism  of  Saint  Dominic  and  Philip  the  Second. 


TIMUR'S  LETTER  TO  BAJAZET.— 12,000  DOG  KEEPERS.  Ml 

the  bark  of  trees,  and  many  of  them  dying,  Timur  recrossed  the  Cyrus,  CHAP. 

IV. 

and  returned  with  glory  to  Carabagh.  ^r-j^f 

A  divan  was  held,  and,  after  a  formal  enquiry,  Hadgi  Abdalla  Ab- 
bas, and  Mehemed  Casgan,  were  bastinadoed,  and  several  officers  fined 
fifty,  and  some  three  hundred,  horses,  for  their  misconduct  in  the 
field.  Prince  Burhan  Aglen  was  put  to  death  for  the  same  reason. 
Favours  were  distributed  to  Mirza  Aboubeker. 

Timur,  considering  that  the  interests  of  religion  and  his  own  poli-  A.D.  1400. 
cy  would  best  be  served  by  again  attacking  Georgia,  resolved,  with 
his  council,  on  that  measure.    That  country  was  again  invaded,  ra- 
vaged, and  plundered :  no  mercy  being  shown. 

His  Majesty  being  irritated  by  the  bad  conduct  of  the  Ottoman 
Emperor  and  the  sultan  of  Egypt,  notwithstanding  the  fatigues  of 
the  campaign  just  ended,  determined,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  sub- 
due them. 

Bajazet,  surnamed  Ildurum,  or  the  Thunderer,  was  Emperor  of  the 
Ottomans,  and  had  subjected  great  part  of  Roum  (Anatolia),  and  ex- 
tended his  dominions  far  into  Europe,  as  well  as  towards  Aleppo.  He 
was  so  magnificent,  that  in  his  household  he  had  twelve  thousand  dog 
keepers.  This  prince  had  the  boldness  to  send  an  ambassador  to  Ta- 
harten,  to  summon  him  to  court,  and  to  send  the  tribute  of  Erzerom 
and  other  countries.  Bajazet  was  not  ignorant  that  Taharten  was  un- 
der Timur's  protection.  Whereupon  Timur  resolved  to  endeavour  to 
bring  him  to  a  sense  of  his  fault  by  friendship  and  mildness  mixt  with 
reproaches.  He  therefore  ordered  his  secretary  to  write  a  letter  to 
Bajazet. 

"  God,  says  the  Alcoran,  blesses  those  princes,  who  know  what  use 
they  should  make  of  their  power,  and  go  not  beyond  the  bounds  pre- 
scribed them.    We  let  you  know,  that  the  greatest  part  of  Asia  is  un- 


142  TIMUR  INVADES  ASIA  MINOR. 

CHAP,  der  our  officers,  and  that  our  guard  consists  of  sovereign  kings, 
v^^py^z  Where  is  the  potentate  that  does  not  glory  in  being  of  the  number  of 
our  courtiers?  but  for  thee,  whose  true  origin  terminates  in  a  Turco- 
man sailor*  it  would  be  well,  since  the  ship  of  thy  unfathomable  am- 
bition has  suffered  wreck  in  the  abyss  of  self-love;  if  thou  wouldest 
lower  the  sails  of  thy  rashness,  and  cast  the  anchor  of  repentance  in 
the  port  of  sincerity;  lest,  by  the  tempest  of  our  vengeance,  you  should 
perish  in  the  sea  of  punishment.  Since  you  have  undertaken  a  vigo- 
rous war  with  Europeans,  the  enemies  of  the  Mussulman  law,  we  con- 
sider you  favourably:  leave  your  proud  extravagances,  and  know,  that 
no  one  ever  dared  make  war  with  us,  and  prospered.  The  devil  cer- 
tainly inspires  you  to  ruin  yourself.  Believe  me,  you  are  but  a  pis- 
mire, don't  seek  to  fight  elephants.  The  dove  which  rises  against  the 
eagle,  destroys  itself.  But  your  rodomontades  are  not  extraordinary; 
for  a  Turcoman  never  yet  spake  with  judgment.  If  you  don't  follow 
our  counsels,  you  will  repent  it." 

Bajazet,  on  reading  the  letter,  sent  this  answer  :  "  It  is  a  long  time 
since  we  have  been  desirous  of  a  war  with  you.  If  you  don't  advance, 
we  will  seek  you ;  and  we  shall  see  in  whose  favour  heaven  will  de- 
clare." On  receiving  this  reply,  Timur  caused  the  imperial  standard 
to  be  displayed,  and  marched  for  Anatolia. 
Sept.  1 .  The  Emperor  encamped  near  Sebaste :  he  saw  from  an  eminence, 
the  place  full  of  men  singing  and  playing  on  musical  instruments. 
Bajazet's  van-guard  appeared,  retreated,  and  was  pursued  and  cut  to 
pieces,  near  Caesarea.  Sebaste  was  fortified  with  high  thick  stone  walls, 

*  Bajazet  was  descended  from  Othman,  the  founder  of  the  Turkish  Empire, 
A.  D.  1299.  Othman  was  the  son  of  an  Oguzian  or  Turcoman  chieftain,  who  had 
entered  into  the  service  of  Aladin,  sultan  of  Iconium,  and  had  established  him- 
self with  his  tribe  at  the  maritime  town  of  Sivegut,  on  the  river  Sangar  (the  Iris), 
which  runs  into  the  Euxine  sea.    (See  Gibbon,  Ch.  LXV.  note  29.) 


QUARREL  WITH  THE  SULTAN  OF  EGYPT.  143 

and  a  ditch  full  of  water.  In  eighteen  days,  by  the  vigorous  applica-  C*JAP, 
tion  of  battering  rams,  and  machines  to  cast  fire  and  hurl  stones,  the 
inhabitants,  in  terror,  supplicated  for  pardon.  Timur's  heart  was  soft- 
ened by  the  cries  of  the  women  and  children.  He  granted  quarter  to 
the  Mussulmans,  on  their  paying  ransom;  and  made  slaves  of  the  Ar- 
menians and  other  Christians.  Many  places  were  reduced,  but  Bajazet 
avoided  a  battle . 

Farrudge,  son  of  the  late  Barcoc,  king  of  Egypt  and  Syria,  having 
added  to  his  father's  crimes  against  Timur,  by  arresting  his  ambassa- 
dor, the  Emperor  resolved  forthwith  to  chastise  him.  Timur's  gene- 
rals represented,  on  their  knees,  the  peril  of  such  an  attempt  by  troops 
fatigued  with  campaigns  against  a  difficult  country,  strong  fortresses, 
and  a  numerous  and  well-appointed  army.  Timur  promised  them  suc- 
cess, if  they  would  put  their  trust  in  God;  his  resolution  was  not  to 
be  shaken  f;  and  all  obeyed  him  with  zeal.  "  As  for  the  pride  and 
blindness  of  the  Syrians  and  Egyptians,  Mahomet  has  told  us,  (said 
he),  that  when  God  resolves  to  destroy  any  one,  he  deprives  him  of  com- 
mon sense" 

The  army  encamped  at  Behesna,  between  Malatia  and  Aleppo. 
Behesna  and  Antapa,  two  very  strong  places,  were  both  taken.  The 
governors  and  people  were  spared,  at  the  intercession  of  Timur's  son, 
Shah  Rohk.  They  delivered  great  presents  to  the  Emperor,  in  whose 
name  prayers  were  read-    The  camp  was  pitched  near  Aleppo.  Nov.  8. 

The  Egyptian  sultan's  army  was  collected  from  Tripoli,  Balbec,  Ca- 
naan, Rama,  J erusalem,  and  many  other  places ;  it  was  very  numerous 
and  well  appointed. 

Timourtach,  the  governor  of  Aleppo,  represented  the  great  power 

f  I  should  ill  become  this  throne,       *  * 

And  this  imperial  sov'reignty,       *  * 
*       *       *       *        ifaught       *  * 

Of  difficulty  or  danger  could  deter  me.       Par.  Lost,  B.  II.  1.  445. 


144  EGYPTIANS  DEFEATED  AT  ALEPPO—FURIOUS  ELEPHANTS. 

CHAP,  and  uniform  conquests  of  Timur;  and  was  for  treating*:  but  the  go- 
\^»^m^  vernor  of  Damascus  taxed  him  with  cowardice,  and  enumerated  the 
stone  fortresses  of  Syria,  the  goodness  of  their  Damascus  bows,  Egyp- 
tian swords,  and  Arabian  lances.    Opposition  was  resolved  on. 

Timur  advanced  towards  Aleppo,  half  a  league  a-day,  entrenching 
his  army  every  evening,  and  making  a  rampart  of  the  bucklers.  The 
Syrians,  concluding  that  the  Tartars  mistrusted  their  strength,  prepared 
to  give  battle.  The  main  body  of  Timur's  army  was  commanded  by 
himself,  with  a  rank  of  elephants  in  front,  equipped  magnificently,  to 
serve  as  a  rampart :  their  towers  were  filled  with  archers  and  flingers 
of  wild-fire.    These  animals  coiled  up  their  trunks  like  serpents. 

The  right  wing  was  commanded  by  the  mirzas,  Miran  Chah 
and  Shah  Rohk ;  the  left  by  Sultan  Mahmoud,  accompanied  by  the 
great  emirs.  Every  one  had  on  his  coat  of  mail,  a  cuirass,  and  a 
helmet. 

The  Syrian  army  was  composed  of  a  right  and  left  wing,  and  a  main 
body. 

The  Tartars  advanced  with  their  ensigns  displayed:  the  kettle 
drums  and  trumpets  sounded,  and  both  sides  shouted,  Alia  Ak- 
bar! 

The  two  wings  of  the  Syrians  were  overpowered,  and  the  ground  was 
strewed  with  carcasses,  helmets,  and  sabres.  The  elephants  rushed 
upon  the  main  body  of  the  Syrian  army,  and,  with  their  trunks,  tossed 
many  into  the  air,  and  trampled  others  under  their  feet,  no  one  being 
able  to  stop  them. 

The  two  governors,  seeing  such  dreadful  slaughter  in  so  short  a 
time,  fled;  the  soldiers  dispersed  themselves.  The  major  part  took 
the  road  to  Damascus,  and  were  pursued  so  closely,  that  only  one 

*  According  to  the  computation  of  the  Empei'or's  comptroller,  his  army  con- 
sisted of  eight  hundred  thousand  men.    Sherefeddin,  II.  p.  165,  note  4. 


13ALBEC  TAKEN.— NOAH'S  TOMB. 

horseman  of  that  great  number  reached  the  city.  The  others  fleeing 
to  Aleppo,  were  pursued  and  slaughtered  in  such  heaps,  that  they 
were  piled  up  to  the  plinth  of  the  walls ;  three  or  four  of  the  crowd 
being  run  through  at  a  time  by  a  single  pike. 

The  camp  and  city  were  pillaged :  the  booty  was  prodigious.  The 
women,  children,  cattle,  gold,  jewels,  &c.  were  seized  and  kept  by  the 
soldiers. 

The  strong  citadel  was  terrified  into  surrender.  The  governors 
were  put  in  irons,  and  a  message  sent  to  the  son  of  Barcoc,  at  Cairo, 
to  release  Timur's  ambassador.  Immense  treasures  were  lodged  in  the 
citadel,  and  eight  emirs  were  left  to  guard  it. 

*        #        *  * 

Some  castles  were  taken,  and  Timur  advanced  to  Hama.  The  in- 
habitants gave  up  their  treasures,  and  were  protected.  Balbec  was 
reduced  without  trouble,  and  vast  quantities  of  fruits,  pulse,  and  all 
manner  of  necessaries  were  found  in  it. 

Balbec,  being  in  the  vicinity  of  a  mountain,  the  weather  was  now  A.D.  1401. 
very  cold,  and  much  snow  fell.    The  Emperor  therefore  departed,    ^an-  3* 
and,  after  a  few  days'  march,  he  went  to  the  tomb  of  the  prophet 
Noah,  to  beseech  his  blessing ;  and  then  set  out  for  the  conquest  of 
Damascus. 

The  main  body  of  the  army  had  been  sent  to  ravage  the  maritime 
towns  of  Syria;  and  now  joined  the  camp,  laden  with  booty. 

Syria  now  belonging  to  Egypt,  the  governors  had  made  urgent  re- 
presentations to  Farrudge,  their  king,  to  come  and  oppose  Timur. — 
He  marched  to  Damascus,  and  it  was  immediately  prepared  for  de- 
fence. His  cavalry  was  the  best  in  the  world.  Using  policy  as  well 
as  strength,  he  sent,  as  ambassador  to  Timur,  an  eloquent  and  perfect 

u 


145 


Nov.  11. 


DESIGN  TO  MURDER  TIMUR.— HIS  LETTER  ON  THE  OCCASION. 

villain,  in  a  humble  religious  habit ;  accompanied  by  two  young  assas- 
sins with  poisoned  daggers,  to  murder  the  Emperor  during  the  audi- 
ence. 

On  Timur's  approach  towards  Damascus,  these  wretches  joined  his 
court,  and  had  several  complimentary  interviews,  at  the  foot  of  the 
throne ;  which  presented  favourable  opportunities :  but  the  Almighty, 
who  was  always  Timur's  protector,  would  not  suffer  the  execution  of 
their  designs.  Coja  Masaoud  Semnani,  one  of  the  great  secretaries 
of  the  council,  conceived  some  suspicions,  from  the  manner  of  pro- 
ceeding of  these  persons :  and  communicated  them  to  some  one,  who 
related  them  to  the  Emperor. 

Timur  ordered  the  Egyptians  to  be  searched,  and  poisoned  daggers 
were  found  in  their  boots.  The  Emperor  returned  thanks  to  his  So- 
vereign Protector.  It  is  not,  said  he,  the  maxim  of  kings  to  murder 
ambassadors;  yet  it  would  be  a  crime  to  suffer  this  rascal  or  his  com- 
rades to  live ;  who,  though  clothed  in  a  religious  habit,  is  a  monster  of 
perfidy.  He  thereupon  ordered  the  ambassador  to  be  killed  with  the 
poisoned  daggers ;  and  the  noses  and  ears  of  the  two  assassins  to  be 
cut  off,  meaning  to  send  them  back  with  a  letter  to  the  Sultan  of 
Egypt. 

Timur  encamped  near  Damascus,  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  with  a  trench 
and  palisadoes  round  his  army.  He  ordered  the  prisoners  brought 
from  Aleppo  to  be  put  to  death,  in  revenge  for  the  king's  scandalous 
action.  Two  days  after,  his  Majesty  sent  Padshah  Baouram,  as  am- 
bassador to  the  sultan,  with  this  letter : — 

"  All  this  great  noise  of  the  world  is  not  so  much  to  heap  up  riches, 
as  to  acquire  honour;  for  half  a  loaf  a-day  is  sufficient  for  the  nourish- 
ment of  a  man.  Whenever  I  have  demanded  Atilmich,  my  ambassa- 
dor, from  you,  you  have  always  started  difficulties.  We  therefore 
make  war  on  you.    If  rocks  could  speak,  they  would  tell  you,  that  this 


IMMENSE  ARMY. — DEFEAT  OF  THE  SYRIANS.  147 

action  of  your's  portends  no  good  to  you ;  yet,  if  you  will  cause  the  CHAP, 
money  to  be  coined,  and  the  public  prayers  to  be  read  in  our  name,  v«*p-v-^ 
this  shall  stop  our  fury.    Our  soldiers  are  like  roaring  lions,  which 
want  their  prey.    I  set  before  you  peace  and  joy,  or  war  and  desola- 
tion.   Make  your  choice  with  prudence.  Farewell." 

Timur's  ambassador  was  received  with  great  honour.  Several 
Egyptian  lords  were  sent  to  the  camp,  to  ask  the  Emperor's  pardon : 
they  promised  that,  in  five  days,  Atilmich  should  be  sent  to  his  au- 
gust presence.  They  returned  to  Damascus  with  presents  of  vests; 
and  this  friendly  appearance  gave  joy  to  the  inhabitants. 

After  ten  days'  encampment,  Timur  wished  to  remove  to  Goula,  Jan.  19. 
that  his  horses  might  feed  in  those  delicious  pastures.  The  Syrians 
mistaking  his  decampment  for  weakness,  their  whole  army  and  multi- 
tudes of  people  came  out  to  attack  him.  Timur  faced  about,  and  en- 
trenched his  camp  behind  the  baggage  and  some  great  stones.  An 
action  ensued,  and  the  vast  plain  was  deluged  with  the  blood  of  the 
Syrians,  who  were  defeated  and  slain  in  immense  numbers. 

Mirza  Sultan  Hussein,  the  Emperor's  grandson,  after  a  debauch,  was 
excited  by  some  seditious  Persians,  a  few  evenings  before,  to  revolt  and 
join  the  Syrians  in  Damascus.  He  commanded  the  left  wing  of  the 
Syrians  in  this  action,  and  fought  against  the  Mirzas,  Miran  Shah  and 
Shah  Rohk.  He  was  taken  prisoner.  Timur  ordered  him  to  be 
loaded  with  chains*.  At  the  intercession  of  Shah  Rohk,  he  was  li- 
berated, but  not  till  he  had  been  bastinadoed,  as  ordered  by  the  law 
of  Yasac.  He  was  never  afterwards  admitted  into  the  Emperor's 
hall. 

Timur  ordered  the  army  to  march,  in  order  of  battle,  towards  Da- 

*  "  And  with  respect  to  my  family,  I  rent  not  asunder  the  bonds  of  consangui- 
nity and  mercy ;  and  I  issued  not  commands  to  slay  them,  or  to  bind  them  with 
chains."    Timur's  Inst.  p.  173. 

U2  .    "  v 


MAGNIFICENT  ARMY.— THE  KING  OF  EGYPT  FLEES. 

mascus.  The  front  of  the  army,  from  the  extremity  of  one  wing  to 
that  of  the  other,  was  between  three  and  four  leagues.  The  elephants 
in  a  great  rank  marched  in  front.  The  approach  to  the  city  was  ris- 
ing ground ;  and  Timur  meant  to  dishearten  the  Syrians  by  this  mag- 
nificent display ;  as  they  had  but  an  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  mul* 
titude  of  his  army. 

The  king  of  Egypt,  at  sight  of  this  immense  force,  held  a  council. 
Some  were  for  defending  the  city:  but  it  was  decided  that  the  king 
and  principal  persons  should  escape  at  night,  and  flee  to  Egypt.  A 
letter  was  therefore  sent  to  the  Emperor,  to  beg  one  day,  and  they 
would  obey  his  orders :  the  king  disclaimed  the  battle  that  had  taken 
place,  as  not  ordered  by  him.    On  this  Timur  encamped. 

At  night,  the  sultan  and  principal  lords  left  Damascus,  and  took  the 
road  to  Cairo.  A  Tartar  deserter,  named  Thacmac,  went  to  Sultan 
Shah  Rohk,  and  informed  him  thereof.  Some  of  the  king's  party  were 
overtaken,  and  several  slain ;  and  the  baggage  which  they  had  aban- 
doned, was  captured. 

Timur  now  quartered  his  army  in  the  suburbs  of  Damascus.  He 
visited  the  tombs  of  Oumme  Selma  and  Habiba,  wives  of  Mahomet, 
and  that  of  Belalhabachi,  whose  intercession  he  implored. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  city  were  seized  with  fear,  and  all  the  che- 
rifs,  the  cadis,  emams,  and  lawyers,  went  out,  and  threw  themselves  at 
the  foot  of  the  throne,  with  entire  submission  and  large  presents — 
They  implored  the  Emperor's  pity  on  the  mussulmans.  The  ransom 
was  agreed  on,  and  seven  gates  of  the  city  were  walled  up,  leaving  one 
open  for  Timur's  office,  to  which  payment  was  brought.  The  chief  of 
the  deputation  was  Cadi  Veliddin,  whose  discourse  pleased  Timur;  and 
the  party  was  invited  to  dine  at  his  table.  The  cadi  'conversed  with  the 
Emperor  about  Africa,  in  which  country  he  had  travelled;  for  Ti- 
mur was  well  versed  in  the  history  of  states  and  princes,  both  of  the 
east  and  the  west. 


DAMASCUS  SUBMITS. — GREAT  TREASURES. 


149 


Prayers  were  read  in  the  famous  mosque  of  the  Ommiades  califs,  in  CHAP, 
the  name  and  titles  of  the  august  Emperor. 

Some  of  the  soldiers  having  used  violence  after  the  publication  of 
quarter,  Timur  caused  them  to  be  crucified. 

The  governor  of  the  castle  confiding  in  its  immense  strength,  held  out, 
and  was  besieged  in  form  by  a  very  great  force.  Three  platforms  were 
built,  high  enough  to  command  it ;  from  which  fire-pots,  arrows,  and 
great  stones  were  thrown  in  as  thick  as  hail.  The  walls  were  shaken 
by  battering  rams ;  the  large  pieces  of  rock,  in  the  walls,  were  heated, 
and  shattered  by  vinegar  being  cast  on  them,  and  then  broken  by  ham- 
mers. The  walls  were  sapped,  and  one  of  the  vast  towers  fell.  The 
soldiers  rushed  to  the  breach,  and  eighty  Persians  being  crushed  under 
the  falling  ruins,  the  troops  halted.  The  breach  was  quickly  filled  up 
by  the  Syrians.  The  wooden  props  which  supported  part  of  the  for- 
tifications being  set  on  fire,  the  governor,  hopeless  of  a  successful  de- 
fence, came  out,  and  delivered  the  keys  of  the  fortress  and  the  treasury 
to  Timur,  who  ordered  him  to  be  put  to  death,  for  not  surrendering 
earlier. 

The  treasure  was  very  great.  There  was  a  granary  of  corn,  being 
the  revenues  of  Mecca  and  Medina ;  the  amount  for  which  it  was  sold 
was  considerable,  in  consequence  of  a  scarcity.  Timur  ordered  the 
whole  sum  to  be  distributed  among  the  officers  of  those  renowned  ci- 
ties, for  he  was  sincere  in  his  religion :  and  then,  with  very  civil  treat- 
ment, sent  them  back  to  Jerusalem. 

The  garrison  of  Damascus  was  composed  of  Circassians,  mamalucs 
Ethiopian  slaves,  and  Zanguebars ;  the  women,  children,  and  old  men, 
were  all  made  slaves. 

The  Syrian  money  being  of  a  base  alloy,  Timur  ordered  a  recoinage 
in  his  own  name ;  the  gold  and  silver  to  be  refined.  There  was  so 
much  money  among  the  soldiers,  that  the  revenue  to  the  divan  on  this 


150  DAMASCUS  BURNT — MOSQUE  OF  OMMIADES.— MESSIAH. 

C*JyP*  recoinage  was  six  hundred  thousand  dinars  copeghi  (about  one  hun- 
<**~y~*+s  dred  and  sixty-eight  thousand  pounds  sterling). 

Timur  ordered  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean  to  be  ravaged,  which 
was  done ;  and  the  emirs  then  returned,  with  great  booty,  to  Canaan. 

The  Emperor  was  severely  attacked  with  an  imposthume  upon  his 
back,  but  soon  recovered. 

The  soldiers  were  now  so  overloaded  with  booty,  that  they  actually 
threw  away  gold  and  silver  stuffs  and  other  valuable  things,  not  being 
able  to  carry  them.  "  Several  creditable  persons,  eye-witnesses,  relat- 
ed this  to  me*." 

Damascus  was  accidentally  burnt,  being  built  of  inflammable  mate- 
rials. "  Timur,  whose  regard  for  religion  was  unparalleled,  sent  to  save 
the  mosque  of  Ommiades ;  but,  by  God's  wrath  against  these  people, 
the  stone  minaret  was  burnt;  whereas  the  wooden  minaret  Arous,  or 
Mounar  Beiza,  remained  safe,  which  was  miraculous.  Upon  this,  the 
mussulmans  believe  that  the  Lord  Messiah  Jesus,  on  whom,  as  on  our 
prophet,  may  blessings  be  showered,  will  descend  from  heaven,  when 
he  shall  come  to  judge  both  the  living  and  the  deadf ." 

Timur  having  made  the  Syrians  feel  his  wrath,  now  gave  them 
marks  of  his  clemency ;  he  ordered  all  the  slaves  taken  in  Syria  and 
Damascus,  men,  women,  and  children,  to  be  set  at  liberty. 

Tadmor,  built  by  the  prophet  Solomon,  was  plundered,  and  two 
hundred  thousand  sheep  taken.  Some  Turcomans  near  the  Euphrates 
were  defeated,  and  their  horses,  sheep,  and  camels  taken.  The  sol- 
diers now  possessed  eight  hundred  thousand  sheep. 
A.D.  1401.  Bagdat  was  again  taken  and  plundered.  Ninety  thousand  inhabit- 
July  23.  ants  were  sjain^  anci  one  hundred  and  twenty  pyramids  were  made  of 
their  heads. 


Sherefeddin. 


f  Sherefeddin,  Vol.11,  p.  200. 


TADMOR— 800,000  SHEEP. — 120  PYRAMIDS  OF  HEADS  AT  BAGDAT. 

Timur,  on  arriving  at  the  river  Jagatou,  was  joined  by  the  Empress 
Serai  Mule  Canum,  the  mirzas  and  their  wives  and  children,  the  doc- 
tors and  principal  lords  of  the  empire  of  Iran.  His  Majesty,  who  was 
extremely  desirous  of  being  enlightened  on  questions  of  religion,  invi- 
ted some  of  the  learned  to  dispute  on  some  points,  in  order  to  clear  up 
the  truth. 

The  Emperor,  being  at  Tauris,  received  a  repentant  letter  from 
Bajazet,  and  granted  him  his  pardon.  A  great  hunting  circle  was 
now  made  and  an  immensity  of  game  killed. 

Timur  received  news  of  the  death  of  his  general,  Emir  Hadgi  Sei- 
feddin;  he  was  sensibly  touched,  even  to  tears,  at  the  loss  of  this  faith- 
ful servant. 

Bajazet  having  given  protection  to  a  powerful  robber,  who  plunder- 
ed the  caravans  of  Mecca,  Timur  had  a  correspondence  with  him  to 
remonstrate. 

The  castle  of  Kemac,  on  the  Euphrates,  was  taken.  For  nearly 
three  days  together,  little  birds  as  big  as  sparrows,  and  unfledged,  fall 
out  of  the  air  at  this  place;  the  inhabitants  gather  them  up,  salt  them, 
and  preserve  them  in  pots.  If  they  do  not  take  them  in  three  days, 
their  wings  grow  large  enough  to  fly  away*. 

Timur  receives  a  very  unsatisfactory  and  evasive  embassy  from  Ba- 
jazet, and  finds  himself  constrained  to  invade  the  Ottoman  empire. 
The  Emperor  reviewed  his  army,  which  proved  much  to  his  satisfac- 
tion ;  many  of  the  corps  being  now  so  equipped,  as  to  be  more  per- 
fectly and  easily  distinguished  in  the  heat  of  battle. 

The  army  advances  to  Csesarea  in  Cappadocia;  and  his  Majesty 
sends  a  letter  to  Bajazet  enjoining  him  to  listen  to  his  moderate  pro- 


Sherefeddin,  Vol.  IT.  p.  240. 


152  BAJAZET'S  ARMY  ADVANCES. 

C  j^P'  Posals>  and  send  back  the  officers  of  his  ally  Taharten,  who  had  been 
v^-v"*-^  seized;  and  to  let  one  of  his  sons  be  sent  also,  who  shall  be  treated 
with  courtesy  and  tenderness,  as  a  pledge  of  his  sincerity. 

The  Emperor  encamped  with  all  his  army,  at  Ancora.  Bajazet's 
army  advanced*.  When  night  came,  Timur  offered  up  his  prayers  to 
the  great  creator  of  the  universe,  who  had  been  his  particular  bene- 
factor. "  O  Lord !  what  thou  hast  hitherto  done  for  me  redounds  to 
thy  glory,  why  then  should  I  despair?" 

Timur  ranged  his  immense  army,  which  was  commanded  by  the 
greatest  lords  of  Asia.  Himself  commanded  the  body  of  reserve. 
Several  ranks  of  elephants,  equipped  in  the  completest  and  most  mag- 
nificent manner,  were  posted  at  the  head  of  the  whole  army  f . 

Bajazet's  right  wing  was  commanded  by  Pesir  Laus,  an  European, 
his  wife's  brother;  with  twenty  thousand  cavalry  of  Europe,  armed  in 
steel  from  head  to  foot,  so  that  nothing  could  be  seen  but  their  eyes. 
Their  armour  was  fastened  below  the  foot  by  a  padlock,  which,  except 
they  open,  their  cuirass  and  helmet  cannot  be  taken  off.  The  left 
wing  was  led  by  Mussulman  Chelibi,  son  of  Bajazet,  and  composed  of 
the  troops  of  Anatolia.  The  main  body  was  commanded  by  Bajazet 
himself,  having  for  his  lieutenants-general,  his  three  sons,  Moussa, 
Aisa,  and  Mustafa.  The  most  skilful  of  his  five  sons,  Mehemed  Che- 
libi, had  the  command  of  the  rear,  assisted  by  many  pachas  and  brave 
captains. 

The  two  armies  were  resolved  to  conquer  or  die.  The  signals  for 
battle  were  given ;  the  large  trumpet  (Kerrenai)  was  sounded. 

*  "  Four  hundred  thousand  men,  horse-men,  and  foot-men,  advanced  with  speed 
to  oppose  and  expel  me."    Timur's  Institutes,  p.  153. 

t  The  number  of  elephants  brought  from  India  by  Timur,  must  have  been 
very  great. 


BATTLE  OF  ANCORA. — BAJAZET  IS  TAKEN  PRISONER. 

Bajazet's  left  wing  was  attacked  with  a  discharge  of  arrows,  and 
Cara  Osman  broke  through  it. 

The  son  of  Bajazet  performed  very  noble  actions,  but  being  unable  to 
withstand  the  attack,  he  fled  with  his  troops.  Bajazet's  right  suffer- 
ed a  cruel  slaughter,  and  was  put  in  great  disorder.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  Europeans,  falling  on  Timur's  troops,  gave  marks  of  prodi- 
gious valour  and  invincible  courage.  There  were  alternate  repulses; 
but  the  death  of  the  prince  Pesir  Laus,  and  the  slaughter  of  the  in- 
fantry of  Bajazet's  right  wing,  gave  Timur  the  advantage.  Timur 
perceiving  this,  ordered  the  commanders  to  fall  on  the  Ottomans  with 
all  his  army.  Quickly,  a  most  terrible  carnage  ensued,  and  the  rest 
of  the  enemy  fled.  The  weather,  the  sun  being  in  Leo,  was  so  hot 
that  numbers  of  the  enemy  perished  with  thirst. 

A  party  had  surrounded  Bajazet,and  attemptedto  capture  or  kill  him ; 
but  he  defended  himself  very  bravely,  and  made  good  his  escape ;  he 
was  however  hotly  pursued,  and  the  Sultan  Mahmoud,  titular  Grand 
Khan  of  Zagatai,  seized  him,  and  he  was  presented  by  the  great 
emirs,  at  sun  set,  with  his  hands  bound,  to  the  conqueror.  At  this 
sight  Timur  was  moved  with  compassion*.  He  ordered  Bajazet's 
hands  to  be  unbound,  and  that  he  might  be  brought  before  him  with 
respect.  When  he  was  admitted,  Timur  went  to  receive  him  at  the 
door  of  his  tent,  with  great  ceremony;  and  causing  him  to  sit  down, 
said  to  him :  "  The  accidents  of  this  world  happen  through  the  will 
of  God,  but  it  may  justly  be  said,  that  you  are  the  sole  cause  of  the 
misfortunes  that  have  befallen  you.  Knowing  that  you  warred  against 
the  infidels,  I  used  all  possible  mildness,  and  would  even  have  given 
you  succour  to  exterminate  the  enemies  of  Mahomet.  You  haughtily 
refused  my  moderate  proposals  for  peace.    Every  one  knows,  if  God 

*  Bajazet  was  then  suffering  from  an  attack  of  the  gout. 


THE  EMPRESS  DESTINA,  BAJAZET'S  WIFE. 

had  given  you  the  victory,  in  what  manner  you  designed  to  treat  me  and 
my  army.  But,  to  return  thanks  to  God  for  my  good  fortune,  you 
may  rest  satisfied  that  I  will  neither  treat  you  nor  your  friends  ill." 
Bajazet  was  confounded.  "  I  have  indeed  done  wrong,  said  he,  in  not 
following  the  counsels  of  so  great  an  Emperor ;  and  my  punishment  is 
merited.  If  your  Majesty  is  willing  to  pardon  me,  I  swear  the  future 
obedience  of  myself  and  my  children." 

Timur  gave  Bajazet  a  splendid  vest,  comforted  him,  and  treated 
him  as  a  great  Emperor.  He  was  lodged  in  a  royal  pavilion,  and  his 
son  Moussa,  who  was  found  in  the  camp,  was  sent  to  him. 

Timur  sent  Mirza  Mehemed  Sultan  to  Brusa,  in  Bythinia,  the  seat 
of  the  Ottoman  empire,  with  several  tomans,  to  take  possession  of  Ba- 
jazet's  treasures,  and  the  riches  of  the  city,  which  they  then  burnt: 
Mussulman  Chelibi  had  fled  to  Europe  in  all  haste,  and  had  carried  off 
part  of  the  treasure.  The  other  cities  of  Natolia  were  in  like  manner 
ravaged,  and  the  people  made  slaves. 

Great  rewards  were  distributed  among  the  emirs:  and  every 
soldier  had  many  horses.  Bajazet's  treasures  were  brought  upon 
mules  and  camels,  to  Kioutahia*,  where  they  were  presented  to 
Timur,  with  the  fallen  monarch's  family,  and  his  beautiful  slaves ;  who 
were  good  dancers,  could  sing  well,  and  excelled  in  music.  The  Em- 
peror sent  to  Bajazet,  his  wife,  named  Destina,  (whose  brother,  Pesir 
Laus,  the  European,  had  been  killed  in  the  battle),  with  his  daughter 
and  all  his  domestics;  but  was  desirous  that  that  princess,  who 
had  been  tolerated  in  the  Christian  religion,  even  in  Bajazet's  seraglio, 
should  embrace  the  tenets  of  Mahomedf . 

*  "  In  my  expedition  against  Room,  I  gave  unto  my  soldiers  seven  years'  wages : 
part  thereof  due,  and  the  remainder  in  advance.  The  subsistence  of  a  private 
soldier  was  fixed  at  the  value  of  his  horse."    Timur's  Institutes,  p.  209,  233. 

f  The  European  romances  call  her  Roxana :  and  make  Timur  place  her  in  his 
seraglio. 


THE  GREEK  EMPEROR  PAYS  TRIBUTE. 


155 


Emir  Mehemed,  son  of  Caraman,  who  had  been  kept  in  chains  for  C:^p> 
twelve  years  by  Bajazet,  was  brought  to  court  and  invested  by  Timur  ~y——' 
with  the  government  of  Caramania,  Iconium,  and  their  dependencies; 
and  which  remained  in  his  family,  under  the  protection  of  Timur. 

The  army,  after  spending  a  month  in  banquets  and  plays,  departed 
from  Kioutahia.  On  the  march,  there  were  feastings  and  music,  to 
which  Bajazet  was  invited,  and  treated  with  great  honour.  Timur 
even  granted  him  the  investiture  of  Natolia,  the  crown  was  placed 
upon  his  head,  and  a  patent  given  him  for  his  government,  in  the  usual 
form. 

Timur  sent  to  the  Sultan  of  Egypt  to  desire  that  the  money  should  be 
coined  in  his  name  and  titles,  and  that  he  would  release  Atilmich,  the 
ambassador.  Two  ambassadors  were  sent  to  the  Greek  Emperor  at 
Constantinople,  to  summon  him  to  pay  tribute  and  customs  ;  which 
was  consented  to,  and  confirmed  by  a  solemn  treaty. 

The  Emperor,  in  his  marches  in  Natolia,  ravaged  and  laid  under 
contribution  all  the  towns  he  approached.  Being  informed  that  there 
was  an  exceedingly  strong  place  on  the  sea-shore,  built  of  free  stone, 
surrounded  on  three  sides  by  the  ocean,  and  on  the  fourth  by  a  deep 
ditch,  inhabited  by  Europeans,  and  named  Ezmir  (Smyrna) ;  and  that 
it  had  never  been  taken  by  any  Mahomedan,  or  paid  tribute ;  and  that 
Bajazet  had  besieged  it  in  vain  for  seven  years;  his  zeal  for  religion 
made  him  resolve  to  summon  them  to  embrace  that  of  Mahomet,  or  to 
pay  tribute ;  or,  in  case  of  refusal,  he  would  order  them  all  to  be  put 
to  the  sword.  These  proposals  were  made  in  vain.  This  place  con- 
tained a  great  number  of  the  bravest  Christian  captains,  or  rather 
a  band  of  desperate  wretches  who  had  laid  up  much  ammuni- 
tion. 

Timur  arrived  in  the  midst  of  rains,  and  winter.    After  the  most  fu-  ^P"  1402 


156  SMYRNA  TAKEN.— BAJAZET'S  DEATH. 

CHAP,  rious  attacks,  and  valorous  defence ;  by  means  of  sapping,  battering- 
v—*-v-«w'  rams,  and  fire,  the  place  was  stormed,  the  inhabitants  put  to  the  sword, 
the  buildings  razed,  and  the  moveables  cast  into  the  sea.  Two  large 
ships,  called  caraccas,  arrived,  and  their  commanders  anchored.  Ti- 
mur  ordered  that  some  of  the  Christians'  heads  should  be  cast  by 
the  machinery  on  board  the  vessels ;  on  which  they  departed.  This 
siege  was  terminated  in  two  weeks,  and  every  one  acknowledged  the 
greatness  of  the  Emperor. 

Timur  granted  favors  and  governments  to  two  sons  of  Bajazet.  He 
ordered  a  strong  citadel  to  be  built  at  Smyrna,  and  that  Grecian 
Christians  should  not  be  admitted  into  Asia  that  way. 

An  European,  named  Soba,  prince  of  the  island  of  Chio,  where  mas- 
tich  grows,  voluntarily  submitted  to  pay  tribute  to  the  Emperor,  and 
sent  him  presents  by  an  ambassador . 

Bajazet,  while  Timur  was  on  the  march,  fell  sick.  The  Emperor 
sent  the  most  skilful  physicians  of  the  court  to  attend  him,  with  the 
same  care  as  if  it  were  for  himself;  but,  since  there  is  nothing  of  cer- 
tain duration  but  God,  Bajazet  died  of  apoplexy  on  the  14th  of  Cha- 
ban,  805. 

A.D.  1403.  Timur  was  so  extremely  affected,  that  he  bewailed  the  misfortunes 
March  23 

'  of  that  great  prince  with  tears.  He  reflected  how  Providence  baffles 
all  human  projects;  for  he  intended  to  raise  the  dejected  spirit  of  Ba- 
jazet, by  re-establishing  him  with  great  power ;  but  fate  had  otherwise 
ordered  it. 

Largesses  were  bestowed  on  Bajazet's  officers,  and  the  Emperor 
presented  his  son  with  a  royal  vest,  a  belt,  a  sword,  a  quiver  enriched 
with  precious  stones,  a  load  of  gold,  and  thirty  horses :  he  likewise 
gave  him  his  letters  patent,  sealed  with  the  impression  of  his  red  hand, 
and  then  dismissed  him;  assuring  him  that  Bajazet's  coffin  should  be 


TIMUR'S  SON  DIES.— THE  EMPEROR'S  GRIEF.  157 

sent  with  the  pomp  of  a  great  king  to  Brusa,  to  be  interred  in  his  own  CHAP. 

mausoleum*.  ^p^^j 

Timur's  son,  Mehemed,  it  is  supposed  by  the  unskilfulness  of  his  A.D.  1403. 

March  27. 

physicians,  died,  aged  nineteen.  He  had,  at  this  early  age,  obtained 
more  victories,  and  performed  greater  acts  of  valour,  than  many  he- 
roes recorded  in  history.  The  afflicted  father,  flinging  his  crown 
aside,  rent  his  clothes,  and  cast  himself  upon  the  ground  in  the  most 
surprising  transports  of  grief.  The  princes  and  lords,  and  the  ladies 
at  court,  wore  nothing  but  sackcloth;  covering  their  heads  and  bosoms 
with  earth,  and  sleeping  upon  chaff.  The  princess  Canike,  Mehe- 
med's  wife,  was  so  overwhelmed  with  sorrow,  that  she  lost  her  senses. 
Even  the  soldiers  of  the  army  were  deeply  grieved.  The  ministers 
of  state,  falling  on  their  faces,  implored  the  Emperor  to  arm  himself 
with  patience,  and  compose  his  mind. 

Farrudge,  Sultan  of  Egypt,  sent  back  Timur's  ambassador,  Atilmich, 
with  assurances  of  entire  submission  and  payment  of  tribute.  Timur 
promised  him  his  protection.  The  Emperor  pursued  his  march  home- 
ward, and  was  joined  by  his  sons  and  grandchildren.  At  sight  of 
Mehemed's  two  little  sons,  Timur  could  not  refrain  from  tears.  The 
princess  Canzade,  mother  of  Mehemed,  when  made  acquainted  with 
his  death,  and  seeing  all  the  ladies  with  black  mantles  covering  their 
heads,  swooned,  plucked  out  her  hair,  and  tore  her  lovely  cheeks  with 
her  nails.  Timur,  in  hopes  of  soothing  her,  ordered  an  empty  coffin, 
strongly  fastened,  to  be  presented  to  her,  which  she  eagerly  embraced, 
weeping  and  groaning — "  My  eyes,  (said  the  afflicted  princess),  were 
continually  watching  the  public  road,  in  expectation  of  some  news  of 

*  The  story  of  the  iron  cage  is  related  by  some  historians,  but  not  by  the  Per- 
sians. See  a  dissertation  on  that  subject  by  Gibbon,  Ch.  LXV.  The  truth  is, 
perhaps,  that  the  house  upon  wheels,  such  as  Bajazet,  as  well  as  others,  travelled 
in,  was  secured,  to  prevent  his  escape,  by  iron  bars. 


158 


EXCESSIVE  SORROW  OF  THE  EMPRESS. — FUNEREAL  BANQUET. 


P'  my  dear  child!  I  expected  not  this  cruelty  from  Fortune.  O  deplor- 
-—^v-**^  able  condition!  O  wretched  Canzade !  O  unfortunate  prince!  merci- 
less Fate  hath  snatched  the  sceptre  of  Iran  from  thy  hand ;  and  it  is  not 
without  cause,  that  tears  of  blood  gush  from  my  eyes." 

Timur,  judging  it  proper  to  do  something  for  the  spiritual  good  of 
his  soul,  ordered  a  funereal  banquet.  All  the  grandees  and  nobles  of 
Asia  sat,  according  to  their  rank,  at  the  Emperor's  table.  The  Alco- 
ran was  read,  and  Mehemed's  brass  drum  was  beaten ;  at  sound  of 
which  there  was  a  sudden  and  loud  weeping;  and  the  drum  was  bro- 
ken to  pieces,  being  the  custom  of  the  Moguls.  The  Emperor  loaded 
the  doctors  with  favours  and  honours,  and  permitted  an  order  to  be 
issued  for  leaving  off  the  sackcloth,  and  other  marks  of  grief. 

Timur  sent  Mirza  Aboubecre  to  rebuild  and  reinstate  Bagdat,  in  its 
former  splendour ;  so  that  a  caravan  might  depart  the  next  year  for 
Mecca. 

The  Emperor  invaded  Georgia,  considering  it  a  gazie  (holy  war), 
and  a  duty.  Death  and  havock  were  the  consequences  to  the  Geor- 
gians; and  they  submitted  to  pay  tribute.  The  Emperor  arrived 
at  Teflis,  having  ruined  all  the  churches  and  monasteries  in  those 
parts. 

In  one  month,  being  the  cold  season,  Timur  rebuilt  the  city  of  Bai- 
lacan,  consisting  of  a  wall,  a  ditch,  four  market  places,  a  great  number 
of  houses,  baths,  caravanserais,  squares,  and  gardens,  all  of  brick. 
The  great  Emperors  of  antiquity  could  not  have  achieved  this  in  a 
year.  The  circumference  of  the  walls  was  twenty-four  hundred  cu- 
bits large  measure,  the  thickness  eleven  cubits,  and  the  height  fifteen ; 
with  a  ditch  thirty  cubits  broad,  and  twenty  wide ;  at  each  corner, 
there  were  a  great  bastion,  a  gallery  with  battlements,  and  a  machine 
to  cast  stones.  The  soldiers  were  under  the  direction  of  the  Empe- 
ror's sons  and  the  emirs. 


SLAUGHTER  OF  LIONS,  STAGS,  &c. — EUROPEAN  MASTIFFS.  159 

The  government  of  JBailacan,  Georgia,  Armenia,  and  Trebizond, 
was  given  to  Mirza  Calil  Sultan.  As  water  was  wanting  at  Bailacan, 
his  Majesty  ordered  a  canal  to  be  dug  from  the  Araxes;  six  leagues 
long  and  fifteen  cubits  in  breadth.    It  was  finished  in  about  a  month. 

Timur  sent  intendants  into  all  his  provinces,  to  distribute  justice 
with  rigour,  and  to  examine  the  state  of  affairs,  with  full  power. 

"  My  heart, "  said  the  Emperor,  "  hath  always  been  set  on  the  en- 
larging of  the  limits  of  my  vast  empire ;  but  now,  I  take  a  resolution 
to  use  all  my  care  in  procuring  security  to  my  subjects,  and  to  render 
my  kingdom  flourishing.  I  ordain  that  private  persons  address  their 
complaints  to  myself.  I  am  unwilling  that,  at  the  day  of  judgment, 
my  poor  oppressed  subjects  should  cry  for  vengeance  against  me;  and 
I  desire  to  lay  up  a  treasure  of  justice,  that  my  soul  may  be  happy  af- 
ter death." 

The  assembly  lifted  up  their  hands  to  heaven,  and  said — "  O  God, 
who  art  the  Lord  both  of  this  world  and  the  next,  hearken  to  the 
righteous  petitions  of  this  just  prince ;  and,  as  thou  hast  subjected  the 
earth  to  him ;  after  a  long  reign  in  this  world,  let  him  reign  with  thee, 
in  glory,  in  the  other." 

Justice  was  now  done  on  some  great  lords  and  governors. 

Timur  ordered  a  famous  chase  in  the  plains  of  Actam,  beyond  the 
Araxes.  The  dogs  had  coverings  of  satin,  embroidered  with  gold,  and 
the  hunting  leopards  had  chains  of  gold,  set  with  jewels,  about  their 
necks.  There  were  Grecian  greyhounds,  esteemed  for  their  swiftness, 
excellent  beagles,  and  huge  European  mastiffs,  as  strong  and  terrible 
as  tigers. 

After  three  days  the  circle  began  to  close,  and  the  slaughter  of  lions 
antelopes,  roebucks,  and  stags,  was  infinite  *. 


*  This  is  a  fine  sporting  country.    "  We  came  to  the  Araxes,  and,  in  five 


160 


AMBASSADOR  FROM  THE  KING  OF  CASTILE. 


CHAP.       Timur,  having  made  himself  master  of  Natolia  and  Syria,  with  their 

— -v-^  dependencies;  subjected  Egypt  to  pay  an  annual  tribute;  and  ful- 

l.D.  1404. 

April  8.  filled  the  precept  in  the  Alcoran,  in  making  war  on  the  Christians 
of  Georgia;  reflected  that,  to  crown  his  happy  life,  he  had  no  more 
to  conquer  in  Asia  than  the  Emperor  of  China,  the  inhabitants  of 
which  empire  were  infidels.  He  therefore  resolved  on  that  conquest, 
and  departed  from  Carabagh  for  Samarcand. 
July.  After  a  long  march,  during  which  his  Majesty  punished  some  re- 
volters,  he  reached  his  capital. 

An  ambassador*  arrived  from  one  of  the  greatest  sovereigns  of  Eu- 
rope, who  brought  Timur  many  curious  presents ;  among  which  were 
some  of  tapestry,  so  curiously  worked  that  they  disgraced  the  painter 
Manis's  greatest  performances. 

Timur  ordered  the  Damascus  architects  to  build  a  magnificent 
palace,  in  the  garden  south  of  Baghi  Chemal,  each  of  its  sides  be- 
ing fifteen  hundred  cubits.     There  were  perpetual   fountains  in 

days'  march,  to  a  plain  full  of  wormwood  and  aromatic  shrubs,  but  no  trees ;  the 
most  numerous  wild  creatures,  were  ostriches,  bustards,  roe-deer,  and  asses;  the 
last  exceeded  our  horses  in  speed,  and  when  they  had  gained  ground,  they  stood 
still,  till  the  pursuers  approached,  and  again  they  fled;  we  were  therefore  obliged 
to  hunt  them  by  relays.  Their  flesh  is  like  that  of  the  red-deer,  but  more  tender." 
Xenophon,  Retreat,  p.  27. 

*  Ruy  Gonzales  de  Clavijo,  from  Henry  III.  King  of  Castile.  Clavijo  pub- 
lished an  account  of  this  embassy,  which  bears  authentic  testimony  to  facts  related 
by  Sherefeddin ;  and  he  gives  an  account  of  a  former  embassy  of  two  gentlemen 
of  the  court,  to  Timur ;  who,  when  they  returned,  were  accompanied  by  a  great 
lord,  as  an  ambassador  from  Timur  to  Henry,  with  a  letter  and  abundance  of  rich 
presents;  among  which  were  two  ladies  taken  out  of  Bajazet's  seraglio,  one  of 
whom  was  daughter  of  Count  John,  a  Hungarian,  and  niece  of  the  king  of  Hunga- 
ry. Her  name  was  Donna  Angelina  de  Grecia ;  the  other  was  a  Greek  named 
Donna  Maria.  The  first  married  Diego  Gonzales  de  Contreras,  Regidor  of  Se- 
govia. The  latter  married  Payo  Gomes  de  Sotomayor,  one  of  the  ambassadors. 
They  were  both  respected  at  the  court  of  Castile.  See  the  French  Editor's  Pre- 
face to  Sherefeddin. 


TWO  HUNDRED  SPLENDID  TENTS.— CAMELOPARD.— OSTRICHES.  161 

great  variety,  mosaic  work,  marble,  porcelain,  and  every  rich  ornament.  c*^p- 
Here  Timur  ordered  a  banquet  to  be  prepared  with  all  the  delights  \^-y-^j 
which  mortals  can  desire  for  their  gratification.    The  European  am- 
bassadors were  invited,  for  even  the  casses  have  their  place  in  the 
ocean  *, 

Timur,  in  conformity  with  the  commands  of  the  Alcoran,  was  wil-  Oct.  17. 
ling  that  his  grand-children  should  be  married.    He  sent  circular  let- 
ters to  all  his  nobles  and  governors  of  the  empire,  (with  the  exception 
of  Shah  Rohk,  who  could  not  be  spared  from  the  kingdoms  of  Irac 
and  Azerbijan),  to  meet  at  Canighul,  for  this  grand  marriage-feast. 

The  tents  were  fastened  with  ropes  of  silk,  and  the  floors  co- 
vered with  carpets  wrought  with  gold ;  the  curtains  were  of  velvet  of 
Chuchter;  the  ceilings  of  ebony  and  ivory,  exquisitely  engraved. 

The  Emperor's  division  consisted  of  four  great  enclosures,  regular- 
ly planned.  The  Imperial  residence  consisted  of  two  hundred  tents, 
gilt  and  adorned  with  precious  stones.  Each  tent  had  twelve  columns 
of  silver  inlaid  with  gold :  the  outside  was  scarlet  and  seven  other 
colours,  and  they  were  lined  with  satin  of  all  colours. 

The  mirzas  and  emirs  had  their  tents  also,  which  were  supported 
by  columns  of  massive  silver,  and  spread  with  the  richest  carpets. 
The  generals,  governors,  and  lords  pitched  their  tents  in  good  and 
regular  order. 

The  people  came  from  China,  Muscovy,  Greece,  India,  Zabul,  Bag- 
dat,  Syria,  in  short  from  all  Asia.  Mengheli,  a  principal  lord  of 
Egypt,  and  eloquent  man,  and  who  could  repeat  the  whole  Alcoran, 
arrived  as  ambassador  from  Farrudge,  the  son  of  Barcoc,  with  abund- 
ance of  rich  presents  in  gold  and  jewels,  and  also  a  Giraffe  and  nine 
large  ostriches. 

*  Animals  about  the  size  of  a  grain  of  corn,  which  float  upon  the  sea. 
Y 


MAGNIFICENT  MARRIAGE  FEAST.— A  MASQUERADE. 

The  Emperor's  sons  arrived  and  presented  the  most  precious  gifts, 
always  nine  of  a  sort.  In  fine,  Canighul  was  converted  from  a  garden 
of  flowers,  which  its  name  implies,  into  a  bed  of  precious  stones,  pearls, 
and  gold  *. 

An  amphitheatre  was  built  and  spread  with  brocade  and  Persian 
carpets,  with  seats  for  vocal  and  instrumental  performers ;  and  places 
for  buffoons  and  jesters,  to  excite  mirth  by  their  facetious  sayings. 
Another  was  prepared  for  all  sorts  of  trades.  A  hundred  divisions 
were  laid  out  with  pomegranates,  pears,  apples,  and  fruits,  which  per- 
fumed the  air. 

Some  young  women  were  dressed  up  as  angels,  fairies,  satyrs,  speaking 
goats  with  gilt  horns;  and  there  were  figures  of  elephants  and  sheep. 

The  furriers  appeared  in  the  guise  of  leopards,  lions,  tigers,  &c.  to 
represent  Genii,  who  had  thus  transformed  themselves. 

The  upholsterers  made  an  artificial  camel,  which  walked  about  as 
if  alive.  The  saddlers  made  two  open  litters,  which  were  laid  upon  a 
camel;  two  beautiful  women  were  placed  in  them,  and  diverted  the  as- 
sembly with  variety  of  postures  of  the  hands  and  feet.  The  rope  dan- 
cers attracted  the  admiration  of  all. 

The  grand  cadi  of  Samarcand  received  the  consent  of  the  six 
princes  and  princesses ;  the  articles  were  agreed  on ;  the  ceremony 
read;  and  the  parties  joined  in  marriage;  which  he  registered.  Every 
one  sprinkled  the  brides  and  bridegrooms  with  jewels. 

The  Emperor,  seated  upon  his  throne,  ordered  a  most  magnificent 
banquet  to  be  served  up  to  the  brides  and  court  ladies,  by  the  great- 
est beauties  of  the  seraglio,  decorated  with  crowns  of  flowers. 

*  "  All  the  riches  of  Xerxes  and  Darius,  of  which  our  historians  talk  so  ex- 
travagantly, were  trifling  in  comparison  of  the  jewels  and  gold  exhibited  on  this 
occasion,  on  the  delightful  plain,  called  Ganigul,  or  the  treasury  of  roses."  Sir 
W.  Jones,  Vol.  V.  p.  607. 


RICH  DRESSES. — CROWNS. — SHOWERS  OF  JEWELS. 


163 


The  princes  of  the  blood,  emirs,  nevians,  cherifs,  foreign  ambassa-  CHAP. 

IV. 

dors,  the  emirs  of  tomans  and  hazares,  were  seated  according  to  their  v^i^-^ 
rank,  under  a  canopy  of  twelve  columns,  distant  from  the  nuptial  hall 
a  horse's  course. 

The  Yesaouls  (or  Chaoux)  were  mounted  on  the  finest  horses,  with 
saddles  of  gold  and  jewels,  magnificently  dressed  in  gold  brocade,  with 
silver  wands  in  their  hands,  to  shew  their  authority.  On  another  side 
were  elephants  of  a  prodigious  size,  with  a  kind  of  thrones  upon  their 
backs,  abundantly  ornamented. 

Cammez,  wines,  brandy,  oxymel,  hippocras,  sirma,  and  other  li- 
quors, were  presented  upon  salvers  of  gold  and  silver,  in  cups  of  agate, 
rock  crystal,  and  gold,  ornamented  with  pearls  and  jewels. 

Several  forests  were  cut  down,  to  dress  the  victuals  of  this  banquet. 
The  whole  plain  was  covered  with  tables,  flaggons,  baskets  of  provi- 
sion, and  jars  for  the  court  and  people. 

It  was  proclaimed  by  the  crier,  by  the  Emperor's  command : — 

"  This  is  the  time  for  feasting  and  rejoicing,  let  no  one  encroach  on 
another,  or  ask — *  Why  have  you  done  this?'" 

After  the  feast,  mules  and  camels,  handsomely  adorned  in  satin  em- 
broidery and  little  golden  bells,  were  laden  with  rich  habits,  crowns, 
and  belts  of  jewels,  for  the  newly  married. 

The  brides  and  bridegrooms  changed  their  rich  dresses,  crowns,  and 
belts,  nine  times ;  at  each  change  paying  their  respects,  and  being 
sprinkled  with  jewels,  till  the  ground  was  covered;  and  which  became 
the  profit  of  the  domestics. 

The  following  night  there  were  illuminations  in  every  place,  of  lan- 
terns, torches,  and  lamps;  and  the  new  married  entered  the  nuptial 
chambers.  The  next  day  the  Emperor,  Empresses,  great  emirs,  and 
cherifs,  visited  them  at  their  apartments.    The  sound  of  drums 


Y2 


HOLY  WAR  TO  EXTERMINATE  THE  CHINESE. 

and  trumpets  was  heard  in  every  place,  from  Canighul  to  Tous,  in 
Chorassan. 

The  ambassadors  of  India,  Egypt,  Spain,  Gete,  Decht-Capchac, 
and  others,  witnessed  this  magnificence  and  pleasure,  which  lasted  two 
months;  and  they  were  distinguished  by  particular  favours. 

The  marriage-feasts  being  over,  Timur  recalled  the  licence,  and  for- 
bade the  drinking  of  wine,  or  other  unlawful  act ;  and  every  one  was 
ordered  to  his  proper  employ. 

The  Emperor  returned  to  his  closet,  to  address  himself  to  God  

"  O  Almighty  Being,  whose  essence  is  unknown  but  to  thyself,  how  can 
I  recite  thy  praise,  who  out  of  nothing  hast  created  me,  and  from  a  pet- 
ty prince  hast  rendered  me  the  mightiest  emperor  of  the  universe !  

Continue,  then,  O  thou  Great  Creator!  thy  goodness  to  me.  I  know 
that  I  am  but  dust.  O  Lord !  put  me  not  to  shame  because  of  my 
vices,  who  have  been  so  long  accustomed  to  partake  of  thy  favours : 
and  then  I  shall  rest  contented." 

Timur  having  summoned  his  children  and  the  great  emirs,  addressed 
them  thus:  "  As  my  vast  conquests  have  caused  the  destruction  of  a 
great  number  of  God's  creatures,  I  have  resolved  to  atone  for  the 
crimes  of  my  past  life,  by  exterminating  the  infidels  of  China.  It  is 
fitting,  therefore,  my  dear  companions,  that  the  instruments  whereby 
the  faults  were  committed,  should  also  be  the  instruments  of  repent- 
ance, and  have  the  merit  of  that  holy  war,  to  demolish  the  temples  of 
the  idols  of  fire ;  and  erect  in  their  places  mosques  and  chapels :  as  the 

Alcoran  assures  us,  that  good  works  efface  the  sins  of  this  world."  

These  sentiments  were  unanimously  applauded —  "  Let  the  Emperor, 
(said  they)  display  his  standard,  and  his  slaves  will  follow  him." 

Timur  returned  to  Samarcand,  and  dismissed  the  princes  to  their 
governments,  and  the  ambassadors  to  their  countries,  with  honour  and 
distinction. 


MARCH  FOR  CHINA.— EXTREME  COLD.— PALACE  TAKES  FIRE.  165 

The  Emir  Berendac  was  ordered  to  review  the  troops.  He  brought  CHAP, 
word  to  the  Emperor,  that  they  consisted  of  two  hundred  thousand 
men  complete;  capable  of  the  greatest  enterprises.  Timur  was  pleas- 
ed, and  ordered  them  to  begin  the  march.  Having  consulted  the  as- 
trologers; who  finding  the  moon,  the  sun,  and  Jupiter,  in  favour- 
able aspects,  the  Emperor  seized  the  happy  moment,  and  began  his 
march. 

The  winter  was  very  violent:  the  Emperor  encamped  at  Ascoulat.  A.D.  1405. 
From  this  place,  Timur  strictly  enjoined  the  viceroys  and  governors  ^an" 
to  do  justice,  and  guard  his  people  from  harm  ;  that  he  may  not 
have  to  blush  for  their  shame  before  the  throne  of  God,  at  the  day  of 
judgment. 

The  army  was  well  supplied,  and  several  thousand  loads  of  corn  were 
carried  in  waggons,  to  sow  the  fields  on  the  road,  and  thousands  of  she- 
camels  were  taken  for  their  milk.  The  violence  of  the  cold  was  such, 
that  men  and  horses  perished ;  and  many  lost  their  hands,  feet,  ears, 
or  noses.  Timur  crossed  the  Sihon,  upon  the  ice,  which  they  found, 
on  digging  for  water,  was  two  or  three  cubits  thick. 

The  Emperor  arrived  at  Otrar,  seventy-six  parasangs  from  Samar-  Feb.  27. 
cand,  and  lodged  in  the  palace  of  Birdi  Bey,  where  all  the  princes  and 
lords  had  also  their  respective  apartments.  The  day  of  the  Emperor's 
arrival,  one  corner  of  the  roof  of  the  palace,  in  which  he  was  lodged, 
took  fire  from  the  tunnel  of  a  chimney  running  by  it ;  but  the  fire  was 
soon  extinguished. 

On  the  10th  of  Chaban,  Timur  was  attacked  by  a  burning  fever,  and  March  25. 
believed  he  heard  the  Houris  say  to  him,  "  Repent!  for  you  must  appear 
before  God."    On  this  he  became  sincerely  penitent  for  his  crimes  *. 


*  Enthusiasm  (says  Locke)  is  a  state  of  mind  founded  neither  on  reason  nor 


166 


TIMUR  FALLS  SICK. 


CHAP.    His  sickness  increasing,  and  having  no  rest,  he  was  much  weakened. 

^-^■^z  Then,  neither  empire,  nor  armies,  nor  riches,  nor  crowns,  stood  him  in 
any  stead.  One  of  the  most  skilful  physicians  of  the  age  employed 
all  his  care* ;  but  fate  had  ordained.  His  mind  continued  sound,  and 
he  resolved  courageously  to  face  death.  He  called  the  empresses  and 
principal  emirs  into  his  presence.  "  I  am  satisfied, "  said  the  Emperor, 
"  that  my  soul  is  about  to  leave  my  body.  I  beseech  you,  instead  of 
uttering  cries,  rending  your  garments,  and  running  to  and  fro,  like  mad- 
men, to  say  Alia  Akbar !  and  the  Fathia,  that  my  soul  may  find  comfort. 
Since  God  has  enabled  f  me  to  give  laws  to  the  earth,  whereby,  through 

revelation,  but  rises  from  the  conceits  of  an  overweening  brain.  Timur  would 
now,  probably,  reflect  on  the  numerous  pyramids  of  ghastly  heads. 

Timur's  Dream. 
Hark  !  I  hear  the  Houris  say — 
Soul  of  Timur,  wing  thy  way, 
Leaving  earth  and  mortal  things, 
Stand  before  the  King  of  Kings ! 
Awful  truth  must  here  be  told — 
If  thou  fought'st  for  God  or  gold. 

*  It  is  said,  that  Timur  had  imprudently  drunk  a  glass  of  cold  water,  which,  not 
improbably,  saved  the  empire  of  China. 

t  Once,  at  the  siege  of  a  strong  castle,  Timur,  by  too  much  fatigue,  was  seized 
with  a  fever,  but  not  being  able  to  rest  without  seeing  how  things  went  on,  he 
ordered  his  attendants  to  carry  him  to  the  door  of  his  tent,  which  stood  upon  an 
eminence,  and  from  whence  he  beheld  the  attack.  He  was  supported  under  the 
arms  by  two  persons ;  but,  being  very  weak,  he  soon  ordered  them  to  lay  him  gently 
upon  the  ground,  which  they  did.  Then,  sending  one  of  them  away,  he  said  to 
the  other,  named  Mahmud  of  Marasm,  "  Consider  my  feebleness,  and  how  destitute 
I  am  of  strength.  I  have  neither  a  hand  to  do  anything,  nor  a  foot  to  walk :  if  I 
should  be  attacked,  I  cannot  defend  myself.  Should  I  be  abandoned  in  the  condi- 
tion I  am  in,  I  should  remain  as  in  a  trap,  without  being  able  in  any  wise  to  help 
myself,  or  avoid  the  evils  that  must  befal  me :  yet,  see,  the  Almighty  has  subjected 
nations  to  my  obedience,  gives  me  entrance  into  the  most  inaccessible  places,  fills 


DEATH  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  167 

all  the  kingdoms  of  Iran  and  Touran,  no  one  dare  encroach  on  his  neigh-  c^p- 
bour,  I  have  hopes  that  he  will  pardon  my  sins,  though  they  are  with- 
out  number.  I  have  the  consolation,  throughout  my  reign,  of  not 
having  permitted  the  strong  to  oppress  the  weak.  I  declare  my  son 
Pir  Mehemed  Gehanghir,  my  universal  heir,  and  lawful  successor  to 
the  empire.  He  must  possess  the  throne  of  Samarcand  with  absolute 
sovereignty ;  and  I  command  you  all  to  obey  him,  that  my  labours 
for  so  many  years  may  not  be  lost." 

Timur  then  ordered  all  the  generals  and  great  lords  to  come  before 
him,  and  to  promise,  on  their  solemn  oaths,  that  no  one  should  be  per- 
mitted to  oppose  the  execution  of  his  will.  The  lords  melted  into 
tears  with  grief  and  despair :  and,  falling  on  their  faces,  asked  if  they 
should  send  for  Calil  Sultan?  "  No,"  said  Timur,  "  I  have  no  other 
desire  than  to  see  Mirza  Shah  Kohk  once  more ;  but  God  will  not 
have  it  so."  The  ladies  in  the  anti-chamber  were  in  the  utmost  con- 
sternation. Timur,  turning  to  his  children,  said,  "Remember  to  A. D.  1405. 
keep  the  public  tranquillity;  be  valiant,  that  you  may  long  enjoy  a  Apul  *' 
vast  empire;  and  make  equity  and  justice  the  rule  of  your  actions. 
If  discord  should  creep  in  among  you,  irreparable  mischiefs  will  arise 
both  in  religion  and  government."  Timur  was  pleased  to  have  the 
doctor,  Moulana  Hebetulla,  to  read  the  word  of  God.  At  night,  at 
about  eight  o'clock,  Timur,  remembering  the  promise  of  Mahomet,  that 
he  whose  last  words  are,  "  there  is  no  other  god  than  God,"  shall 
surely  enter  Paradise,  made  profession  of  that  belief.  Then  he  gave 
up  his  soul  to  the  angel  Esrafiel  *,  who  called  him  in  these  words: — 

the  earth  with  the  terror  of  my  name,  and  makes  kings  and  princes  fall  down  be- 
fore me.  Can  such  works  come  from  any  but  God?  What  am  I  but  a  poor  miser- 
able wretch,  without  either  power  or  application  equal  to  such  great  exploits  ?  " 
At  these  words  the  tears  fell  from  his  eyes,  neither  could  Mahmud  refrain  from 
weeping. 

*  Israel. 


168 


TIMUR  AND  CROMWELL  COMPARED. 


CHAP.  «  O  soul  that  hopest  in  God,  return  to  thy  Lord  with  resignation.  We 
^*-^r***j  belong  to  God,  and  must  return  to  him." 

Timur  was  seventy-one  years  of  age,  and  had  reigned  thirty-six  *. 

This  dismal  night  was  passed  in  grief.  Horror  seized  both  on  his 
friends  and  enemies.  The  princes  of  the  blood  cast  their  crowns  on 
the  earth;  the  empresses  tore  their  faces  and  hair;  and  the  emirs  rent 
their  robes ;  tempests,  rains,  and  thunder  did  not  cease  through  the 
night,  as  if  heaven  shared  the  affliction  f. 

The  next  morning,  the  body  was  embalmed  with  camphire,  musk, 
and  rose  water;  and,  being  wrapped  in  linen,  was  laid  in  a  coffin  of 
ebony.  An  express  was  sent  to  Gazna  to  Pir  Mahomed,  to  beseech 
his  presence :  and  Timur's  death  was  not  permitted  to  be  published. 

*  Timur  was,  in  many  qualities,  unquestionably  a  great  man:  politic,  circum- 
spect, temperate,  generous,  and  just  except  in  warfare.  His  admirers,  like  his  de- 
scendants, (see  Dow,  Vol.  II.  p.  9),  must  deplore  his  fanatical  murders.  Religion, 
that  cordial  of  the  human  mind,  when  it  deviates  into  bigotry,  never  fails  to  confuse 
the  understanding ;  and  in  general  it  inhumanizes  the  heart.  But  for  this  "  damned 
sjwt"  Timur,  as  a  conqueror  and  a  great  monarch,  might  have  commanded  a  dis- 
tinguished fame  on  the  page  of  history.  He  is,  for  the  extent  of  his  conquests, 
second  only  to  Genghis  Khan,  having  exceeded  the  Great  Cyrus  and  Alexander. 

The  horror  of  all  mankind,  except  those  of  his  own  sect,  attaches  to  such  a  mis- 
chievous being  during  his  existence :  and  probably,  even  most  of  the  followers 
of  Ali,  at  the  present  time,  are  softened  into  a  more  rational  character  ;  and  the 
best  portion  of  them  look  back  on  him,  in  that  respect,  with  disapprobation. 
Timur  has  been  called  the  Destroying  Prince :  but  Genghis  Khan,  an  ambitious 
fanatic,  has  a  prior  claim,  and  a  juster  right  to  that  infernal  pre-eminence. 

f  There  is  much  similitude  between  the  character  and  career  of  Cromwell  and 
those  of  Timur: — their  bigotry,  talents,  courage,  magnanimous  resolution,  success, 
death,  and  immediate  loss  of  their  empires.  "At  the  great  stormy  Monday,  on 
which  day  he  died,  Cromwell  (upon  a  revelation  they  say)  told  his  physicians  that 
he  should  now  live  to  perfect  the  work.  At  his  death,  he  had  no  sin  that  troub- 
led him,  but  only  his  want  of  faith.  I  suppose  he  meant,  as  the  divines  of  that 
party  do,  a  full  assurance  of  remission  of  sins  and  eternal  salvation ;  and  then  it 
was  no  wonder  he  wanted  it."  John  Barwick  to  Charles  II.  Letter  LXXIX. 
Select  Collection,  1755. 


CALIL  SEIZES  THE  THRONE.  j6 

A  general  council  was  held,  and  it  was  resolved  to  continue  the  ex-  CHAP. 

IV. 

peditionto  China,  without  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  new  Emperor  w-v-^_ 
but  Mirza  Sultan  Hussein,  who  had  deserted  at  Damascus,  and  fought 
against  Timur,  disbanded  a  part  of  the  left  wing  of  the  army ;  and, 
with  a  thousand  horse,  took  the  road  to  Samarcand,  designing  to  sur- 
prise the  inhabitants  by  a  stratagem,  that  he  might  enter  the  city. 
Couriers  were  sent  in  all  directions,  and  the  whole  army  marched  for 
Samarcand.  The  emirs  and  soldiers  of  Califs  court,  at  Tashkund, 
hearing  of  the  defection  of  Hussein,  swore  allegiance  to  Calil  Sultan, 
a  grandson  of  Timur,  and  sovereign  of  Tashkund;  and  placed  him  on 
the  throne. 

On  news  of  this,  Timur's  army,  with  the  treasure,  advanced  towards  April  16. 
Bochara.  The  empresses,  with  the  heavy  baggage,  were  admitted  into 
Samarcand.  Calil,  having  marched  to  Samarcand,  was  received,  and  April  27. 
took  possession  of  the  imperial  palace ;  which  contained  all  the  trea- 
sures received  in  tribute,  and  the  plunder  of  thirty-six  years.  He  re- 
ceived the  submission  of  the  principal  men  of  the  state  *.  He  ordered 
a  funereal  banquet;  and  the  Alcoran  to  be  read  through.  Timur's 
drum  was  beaten  mournfully;  and  then  broken  to  pieces.  When 
Calil  found  himself  fixed  on  the  throne,  he  distributed  gold  like  corn 
out  of  barns;  and  it  was  carried  away  by  loads,  to  the  amazement  of 
the  people. 

At  the  death  of  the  nephew  of  Hadgi  Berlas,  his  empire  reached 
from  the  Irtish  and  Volga  to  the  Persian  Gulf;  and  from  the  Indus, 
(for  he  did  not  keep  possession  of  Hindostan),  to  Damascus  and  the 
Grecian  Archipelago.    Including  Zagatai,  Timur  had  placed  twenty- 

*  About  a  dozen  emirs  virtuously  remonstrated.  Pir  Mahomed  was  the  law- 
ful heir,  being  the  eldest  son  of  Timur's  eldest  son,  Gehanghir:  he  was  now 
twenty-nine  years  of  age. 


z 


CALIL'S  LOVE  FOR  SHADI  MULC. 

seven  crowns  upon  his  head.  All  his  conquests  were  governed  by  his 
children,  or  his  principal  nobles,  as  viceroys.  Hindostan,  Asia  Minor, 
Russia,  Siberia,  Gete,  Bagdat,  Georgia,  &c.  had  been  invaded  and 
plundered.  Egypt,  and  the  Greek  empire,  had  submitted  to  pay 
tribute. 

It  would  require  a  large  volume  to  describe  the  castles,  cities,  pa- 
laces, bridges,  monasteries,  mosques,  hospitals,  pleasure  houses,  and 
caravanserais  which  were  built ;  and  the  rivers  and  canals  which  were 
dug  by  this  pious  Emperor. 

Timur  left  thirty-six  sons  and  grandsons  *,  one  daughter,  and  fifteen 
grand-daughters.  He  was  a  rigid  observer  of  his  word;  liberal  and 
courteous  to  all,  except  those  who  refused  to  obey  him.  He  passed 
his  leisure  hours  in  reading  books  of  science  and  history ;  in  playing 
at  chess,  in  which  game  he  made  some  alterations ;  and  in  the  con- 
versation of  learned  men.  At  his  first  rise  to  distinction,  Asia  was  a 
prey  to  anarchy  and  bad  government;  at  his  death,  justice  and  secu- 
rity were  enjoyed  throughout  his  dominions f. 

The  Mirza  Calil,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  without  striking  a  blow, 
was  now  in  possession  of  the  vastest  and  richest  empire  at  that  pe- 
riod in  the  universe. 

During  the  absence  of  Timur  in  Georgia,  the  mirza  had  privately 
married  Shadi  Mule,  a  great  beauty,  one  of  the  concubines  of  the 
Emir  Hadgi  Seifeddin.  The  mirza's  wife  informed  Timur;  who  or- 
dered that  Shadi  Mule  should  make  her  appearance:  but  the  mirza 

*  The  expense  of  Timur's  family  must  have  been  immense.  His  eldest  son  re- 
ceived the  subsistence  of  twelve  thousand  horsemen :  his  second  son,  of  ten ;  his 
third  son,  of  nine:  his  fourth  son,  Shah  Rohk,  of  seven  thousand,  &c.  and  his 
grandsons'  subsistence  and  lands,  of  from  three  to  seven  thousand  horsemen  each. 
— Institutes,  p.  241. 

f  Sherefeddin.  Dow's  Hindostan.  Modern  Universal  History.  Gibbon.  Pur- 
chas.  De  Guines,  &c. 


UNPARALLELED  EXTRAVAGANCE.  171 

having  concealed  her,  Timur,  enraged,  commanded  a  strict  search — .    c*j*y  P" 
Being  found,  she  was  condemned  to  die;  and  would  have  been  put  to  K^-^f-^J 
death,  but  for  the  intercession  of  Mirza  Pir  Mehemed  Gehanghir. 

Calil  having  again  concealed  her  in  his  house,  and  information 
thereof  being  transmitted  to  Timur,  she  was  forthwith  ordered  to  be 
executed. 

The  empress,  Serai  Mule  Canum,  was  affected  at  the  deep  anxiety 
and  despair  of  the  unhappy  mirza,  and  trusting  to  Timur's  love  of  his 
children,  she  prevailed  on  the  emir,  Noureddin,  to  inform  Timur  that 
the  lady  was  pregnant  by  the  mirza.  On  this  account  the  order  was 
reversed,  and  she  was  entrusted  to  the  care  of  the  Empress  Bou- 
yan  Aga ;  that,  after  the  lying  in>  she  might  bring  up  the  child,  and 
commit  the  lady  to  the  care  of  the  black  eunuchs. 

On  the  death  of  Timur,  Calil,  finding  himself  an  absolute  sovereign, 
being  crowned  on  the  27th  April,  resigned  every  thing  to  the  will  of 
the  beauty,  whose  charms  were  the  subject  of  all  his  thoughts;  and  he 
took  no  pleasure  but  in  her  company.  Calil  became  her  slave,  and 
breathed  only  by  her  permission;  while  she  accounted  every  thing 
beneath  her,  and  shewed  no  respect  whatever  either  to  the  princes  or 
nobles. 

The  state,  in  whatever  concerned  the  sovereign  authority,  was  now 
thrown  into  great  disorder.  The  mirza  squandered  his  wealth  with 
such  profusion,  and  chiefly  among  those  who  were  afterwards  the  cause 
of  his  ruin ;  that,  though  all  the  riches  of  Hatem,  and  the  tribe  of  Tai, 
did  not  equal  the  tenth  part  of  one  of  the  imperial  treasuries,  it  was 
soon  entirely  gone.  Strangers  and  upstarts  were  suddenly  enriched 
and  promoted  to  the  first  offices  in  the  state;  while  persons  of  the 
greatest  merit  were  totally  disregarded.  *  Bestow  not  honour  and 
riches,"  says  the  poet,  "  on  him  thou  lovest,  unless  by  degrees ;  lest  he 
become  insensible  of  the  obligations  he  owes  to  you." 

z  2 


DEATH  OF  CALIL. — SHADI  MULC  DESTROYS  HERSELF. 

Shadi  Mule,  being  inferior  in  rank  to  the  deceased  Emperor's  wives, 
those  empresses  became  jealous  of  her  greatness ;  at  which  Shadi  Mule 
was  very  indignant,  and  persuaded  Calil  to  force  them  to  marry  per- 
sons in  every  way  unworthy  of  them.  Calil  behaved  to  these  venera- 
ble ladies,  whom  he  ought  to  have  reverenced  as  his  mother,  with 
every  disrespect.  Even  the  soldiers  were  now  disgusted  with  the 
new  Emperor,  and  the  affairs  of  the  state  fell  into  the  utmost  con- 
fusion. 

Pir  Mahomed  had  been  put  to  death  by  the  treachery  of  his  own 
ministers.  The  Emperor  Calil  was  seized  by  conspirators,  and  sent 
to  Cashgar,  where  he  passed  his  time  in  writing  verses  on  the  charms 
of  his  beloved  empress*;  while  she  herself  was  led  in  chains  through 
the  streets  of  Samarcand,  exposed  to  the  insults  of  a  justly  irritated 
populace.  In  1409,  Shah  Rohk  succeeded  to  the  throne.  Calil  was 
sent  to  Chorassan  where  he  soon  died;  and  Shadi  Mule,  who  was  sin- 
cerely attached  to  him,  would  not  survive  him,  but  struck  a  poignard 
into  her  bosom,  and  was  buried  in  the  same  tombf. 

*  Thus  were  the  fruits  of  Timur's  conquests  puffed  into  the  air  like  a  feather ; 
the  amount  of  them  can  scarcely  be  guessed  at.  The  lines  of  Hafez  are  more  appli- 
cable to  the  prince  than  to  the  poet. 

"  Sweet  maid,  if  thou  would'st  charm  my  sight, 

And  bid  these  arms  thy  neck  infold, 

That  rosy  cheek,  that  lily  hand, 

Would  give  thy  Calil  more  delight 

Than  all  Bocara's  vaunted  gold, 

Than  all  the  gems  of  Samarcand. 

Sir  Wm.  Jones,  Vol.  IV.  p.  449. 


t  Sherefeddin,  and  Histoire  des  Huns,  Vol.  V.  p.  81. 


173 


CHAP. 
IV. 


EMBASSY  FROM  SHAH  ROHK,  SON  OF  TAMERLANE, 
TO  THE  EMPEROR  OF  CHINA. 

In  the  year  of  the  Hegira  822,  A.D.  1419,  Shah  Rohk  sent  Shadai 
Khoja  as  an  ambassador  to  China.  The  party  set  out  from  Herat,  and 
proceeded,  by  Balk,  to  Samarcand,  where  they  found  Mirza  Ulug 
Bey,  Shah  Rohk's  son,  (the  great  astronomer)*,  who  sent  other  lords, 
and  some  Chinese,  to  join  the  embassy. 

They  passed  through  Tashkund,  J  ay  ram,  Ash,  and  Ilduz,  (supposed 
to  be  Yelduz),  and  found  the  ice  to  be  two  inches  thick,  though  the 
sun  was  then  in  the  summer  solstice.  They  proceeded  to  Tarcan, 
Kamul,  and  thence  to  a  place  within  twelve  days  of  Sekju,  the  first 
city  in  Katay.  The  embassy  consisted,  in  all,  of  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  persons.  In  the  desert,  on  the  borders,  the  whole  em- 
bassy was  magnificently  feasted,  and  accommodated  with  beds,  &c. 
even  for  all  the  servants. 

On  their  arrival  at  Kamju,  (Campion),  they  were  entertained  in  a 
noble  manner.  At  this  place  they  saw  a  temple,  each  side  of  which  was 
five  hundred  cubits  long ;  and  in  the  middle  of  it  was  an  idol  fifty  feet  in 
length,  lying  as  if  asleep.  The  hands  and  feet  were  nine  feet 
long,  and  the  head  was  twenty-one  feet  in  circumference.  There  were 
other  idols  about  him,  each  a  cubit  high,  in  attitudes  as  if  alive.  They 
saw  ten  more  temples  in  the  city ;  one  with  eight  sides,  and  fifteen 

*  Ulug  Bey  had  a  quadrant,  at  Samarcand,  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet  high. 
His  Astronomical  Tables  are  found  to  differ  very  little  from  those  afterwards  con- 
structed by  Tycho  Brahe.  His  principal  work  is  a  Catalogue  of  the  Fixed  Stars, 
from  his  own  Observations,  A.D.  1437.    Enc.  Brit.  "  Astronomy." 


174  CITY  OF  BEAUTY.— IMAGE  FIFTY  CUBITS  HIGH. 

CHAP,  stories  in  height,  the  chambers  of  which  were  varnished,  and  em- 
v— «^^*^"  bellished  with  paintings.  At  the  foot  of  this  temple  were  figures  of 
giants,  which  seemed  to  carry  it  upon  their  backs.  It  was  of  wood, 
gilt,  and  so  rich  that  it  appeared  like  massy  gold.  In  a  vault  under  the 
edifice,  is  an  iron  axis  or  pillar,  which  rests  upon  a  plate  of  iron,  and 
reaches  from  the  bottom  to  the  top.  This,  being  moved  with  ease, 
sets  the  whole  fabric  in  motion ;  and  turns  it  round  in  such  a  surpris- 
ing manner,  that  "all  the  carpenters,  smiths,  and  painters  in  the  world, 
ought  to  go  thither  to  learn  the  secrets  of  their  trades." 

As  the  embassy  approached  the  capital,  the  magnificence  increased. 
They  arrived  at  Karamuran,  (on  the  banks  of  the  Whang-ho),  and 
crossed  a  firm  even  bridge  of  boats,  fastened  with  iron  chains  attached 
to  thick  iron  pillars.  There  is  a  still  more  superb  temple  here;  and 
three  public  stews,  full  of  very  beautiful  harlots.  The  women 
here  being  the  handsomest  in  Katay,  this  is  called — "  The  City 
of  Beauty." 

At  Sad-in-fu,  in  a  temple,  was  an  image  of  brass  gilt,  fifty  cubits 
high,  called  the  image  of  a  thousand  hands,  having  a  great  number, 
and  in  the  palm  an  eye. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  embassy  at  Khanbalik,  (Pekin),  they  were  con- 
ducted to  the  palace  gate,  where  stood  five  elephants  on  each  side. 
They  then  entered  a  beautiful  court,  where  near  a  hundred  thousand 
men  were  awaiting  the  Emperor;  and  three  hundred  thousand  out- 
side. Before  the  palace  were  two  thousand  musicians  singing  hymns, 
and  two  thousand  guards  armed  with  swords,  halberds,  &c.  It  was 
now  just  day-light,  and  drums,  trumpets,  flutes,  hautbois,  and  bells 
began  to  sound.  The  throne  was  massy  gold.  The  commanders  of 
ten  thousand,  one  thousand  &c.  and  an  infinite  number  of  guards  at- 
tended, in  profound  silence.  The  Emperor  ascended  by  nine  steps  of 
silver.    On  each  side  of  the  throne,  stood  two  beautiful  maidens,  with 


EMPEROR  OF  CHINA  UPON  HIS  THRONE. 


175 


their  faces  and  necks  bare,  their  hair  tied  at  the  top  of  their  heads,  CHAP. 

r  IV. 
and  great  pearls  at  their  ears.    They  had  a  pen  and  paper;  and  re- 

corded  whatever  the  Emperor  spoke.  The  seven  ambassadors  ap- 
proached, and  also  seven  hundred  criminals,  none  of  whom  are  put  to 
death  without  the  minutest  enquiry ;  and  the  Emperor  never  condemns 
any  but  those  he  cannot  save.  The  seven  ambassadors  were  ordered 
to  fall  upon  their  knees,  and  knock  the  ground  with  their  foreheads  ; 
but  they  only  bowed  the  head  three  times.  They  delivered  the  letters 
of  Shah  Rohk,  and  other  princes,  (the  grandeur  and  ceremonies  are 
here  described,  but  need  not  be  repeated,  being  similar  to  the  accounts 
which  appear  in  this  work  from  Marco  Polo  and  Sir  John  Maunde- 
ville).  In  the  court,  were  several  thousands  of  different  birds,  which 
flew  about,  and  fed  upon  the  ground  among  the  people,  quite  tamed 
and  fearless.    For  five  months  there  were  occasional  grand  banquets. 

On  new  year's  day,  people  from  Thibet  and  all  parts  arrived  at  the 
grand  feast,  (for  which  see  in  this  volume  Ch.  II.  Maundeville's  and 
Polo's  descriptions).  The  elephants  on  that  day  were  adorned  with  a 
magnificence  not  to  be  expressed,  with  silver  seats  and  standards,  and 
armed  men  upon  their  backs.  Fifty  of  them  carried  the  musicians, 
these  were  preceded  or  followed  by  fifty  thousand  in  profound  si- 
lence and  order*.    Immense  illuminations  took  place  for  many  days. 

*  This  must  be  considered  as  a  mere  oriental  hyperbole,  to  mean  a  vast  num- 
ber. (Maundeville  relates  that  Thiaut  Khan  had  one  hundred  and  thirty  thou- 
sand registered  minstrels,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  keepers  of  the 
elephants,  beasts,  and  birds.  See  Ch.  II.)  We  find  the  same  expression  in  the 
travels  of  two  Mahomedans  through  India,  in  the  ninth  century. 

"  These  kingdoms  border  on  the  lands  of  a  king  called  Rami,  who  is  at  war 
with  the  king  of  Harez  and  with  the  Balhara  also.  This  king  is  not  much  consi- 
dered for  his  birth,  or  the  antiquity  of  his  kingdom,  but  his  forces  are  more  nu- 
merous than  those  of  the  Balhara,  (or  king  of  kings,  sovereign  of  Kanuge  a  city 
on  the  Ganges — See  notes  to  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  II.  pp.  473,  754),  and  even  those 
of  Harez  and  Tafek.  They  say  that  when  he  takes  the  field,  he  appears  at  the 
head  of  fifty  thousand  elephants."    Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  I.  p.  525. 


176  EMPEROR  THROWN  FROM  HIS  HORSE. — HIS  ANGER. 

CHAP.  Debtors  and  all  felons,  except  murderers,  were  discharged  from  the 
<**-y~>*^  prisons. 

The  Emperor  presented  shankars,  much  esteemed  birds,  to  those 
who  had  brought  him  horses :  he  then  made  rich  presents  to  the  am- 
bassadors. Sending  for  them,  he  said  he  was  going  to  hunt;  and  de- 
sired them  to  take  out  the  shankars  for  their  amusement ;  they  would 
fly  well,  said  his  majesty;  but  the  horses  they  had  presented  were  not 
good. 

The  next  morning  the  ambassadors  were  told  that  the  horse  sent 
by  Shah  Rohk  had  thrown  the  Emperor;  and  that  his  majesty 
had  commanded  them  to  be  put  in  chains.  They  were  near  the  Em- 
peror's quarters,  and  were  ordered  to  wait.  His  majesty  was  per- 
suaded not  to  put  them  to  death,  as  it  would  be  violating  the  law  of 
nations ;  and  they  were  pardoned. 

The  Emperor  mounted  the  large  black  horse  sent  him  by  Ulug  Bey, 
and  had  a  parade  of  guards  about  him.  The  ambassadors  were  or- 
dered to  alight  near  him.  He  said,  addressing  them,  "  the  rarities, 
beasts,  and  other  presents  sent  to  me  in  future,  must  be  better  chosen ; 
the  horse  I  rode  is  so  vicious,  and  I  am  so  aged,  that  I  have  been 
thrown,  and  am  much  hurt  in  the  hand ;  but  have  assuaged  the  pain 
by  laying  gold  upon  it." 

Shadai  Khoja  apologized  to  his  majesty,  and  represented  that  it 
was  the  horse  which  the  great  Timur  had  ridden  upon;  and  that 
Shah  Rohk  had  sent  it  to  his  majesty,  as  the  horse  of  the  greatest 
value  in  all  his  dominions.  The  Emperor,  being  satisfied  with  this 
answer,  called  for  a  shankar  and  let  it  fly  at  a  crane;  but  it  did  not 
seize  the  prey,  and  his  majesty  gave  it  three  strokes  upon  the  head. 
Then  sitting  upon  a  chair,  and  placing  his  feet  upon  another,  the  Em- 
peror gave  a  shankar  *  to  Sultan  Shah,  and  one  to  Sultan  Ahmed ;  but 

*  It  is  an  old  custom  among  the  Tartars,  to  give  a  fine  falcon  as  an  extraordi- 


ON  THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  GYPSIES.  177 

none  to  Shadai  Khoja:  he  then  remounted  his  horse,  and  returned  to  CHAP. 

IV. 

the  city;  where  he  was  received  with  a  thousand  acclamations.    The  v^-^-*^ 
Emperor  being  ill,  his  son  dismissed  the  ambassadors  with  honour, 
and  they  reached  Herat  after  an  absence  of  two  years*. 


ON  THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  GYPSIES. 

The  Gypsies  have  puzzled  the  world  almost  as  much  as  the  Mam- 
moths: but  the  history  of  Tamerlane's  invasion  of  Hindostan,  appears 
to  afford  the  true  solution  of  their  origin.  "  Mr.  Grellman,  in  his  dis- 
sertation, supposes  the  Gypsies  to  be  Hindoos  of  the  lowest  class,  and 
grounds  this  hypothesis,  chiefly,  on  the  similarity  of  the  gypsy-lan- 
guage to  the  Hindostanee,  shewing  many  words  to  be  the  same; 
though  many  are  different.  He  conjectures  that  they  fled  from  India 
on  Timur's  invasion;  but  he  acknowledges  that  it  is  a  mere  sur- 
misef." 

Sir  William  Jones  suggests,  that,  in  some  piratical  expedition,  they 
might  have  landed  in  Arabia  or  Africa,  and  rambled  to  Egypt  and 
Europe.  "  The  motley  language  of  the  Gypsies,  of  which  Mr.  Grell- 
man exhibits  a  copious  vocabulary,  contains  so  many  Sanscrit  words, 

nary  present,  hawking  being  one  of  their  favorite  amusements.  In  the  province 
of  Dauria,  near  the  Amoor,  there  are  great  numbers  of  milk  white  falcons,  from 
whence  China  is  supplied. 

The  Tartars  in  Siberia  make  use  of  three  sorts  The  first  is  called  in  their 

tongue,  Hkartscheg  Aholphei,  or  Tzungar,  which  is  the  best  and  most  beautiful 
kind;  it  is  pretty  large,  ash  coloured,  and  some  are  speckled  white.  See  Strah- 
lenberg,  p.  362.  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  I.  p.  37,  says,  this  bird  is  white  except  the 
feet,  eyes,  and  bill,  which  are  red. 

*  Astley's  Collection,  Vol.  IV. 

t  Rees's  Encyc.  "Egyptians." 

A  A 


ON  THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  GYPSIES. 

that  their  Indian  origin  can  hardly  be  doubted.  The  authenticity  of 
that  vocabulary  seems  established  by  a  multitude  of  gypsy-words,  as 
bhu,  earth;  cashtli,  wood;  and  a  hundred  more,  for  which  the  collector 
of  them  could  find  no  parallel  in  the  vulgar  dialect  of  Hindostan ; 
though  we  know  them  to  be  pure  Sanscrit,  scarce  changed  in  a  single 
letter.  Near  the  mouth  of  the  river  Sindhu,  is  a  district  named  by 
Nearchus,  in  his  journal,  Sangada,  which  M.  D'Anville  supposes, 
justly,  to  be  the  seat  of  the  Sanganians,  a  piratical  nation,  well  known 
at  present  in  the  west  of  India.  Mr.  Malet,  the  resident  at  Poonah, 
procured  for  me  the  Sanganian  letters,  which  are  a  sort  of  Nagari, 
and  a  specimen  of  their  language,  which  is  apparently  derived  from 
the  Sanscrit:  nor  can  I  doubt,  from  the  description  of  their  persons 
and  manners,  that  they  are  the  outcast  Hindoos.  It  seems  agreed, 
that  the  Gypsies  passed  the  Mediterranean  immediately  from  Egypt  *." 

The  Gypsies  are  found  in  most  countries  of  Europe.  The  writer 
has  seen  them  in  Moscow.  "  Descending  the  western  branch  of  the 
Ural  mountains,  I  passed  a  gang  of  gypsies  with  their  usual  excen- 
tricities,  and  a  larger  gang  of  convicts  ;  and  reached  Kimgour,  for- 
merly the  capital  of  a  province,  and  previous  to  that  a  favorite  place 
of  the  Tartars  f." 

We  have  seen,  in  the  chapter  on  Timur's  wars,  what  immense 
numbers  of  Hindoos  were  captured  and  brought  away  from  India: 
not  only  artisans  and  others,  for  the  Emperor's  service,  but  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  (men,  women,  and  children),  for  an  officer;  and  even 
as  many  as  twenty  for  a  private  soldier.  Timur's  numerous  ele- 
phants of  war,  besides  those  brought  away  by  himself  and  others  as 
beasts  of  burthen,  and  for  presents  to  the  nobility  and  chiefs  of  the 

*  Sir  W.  Jones's  Works,  Vol.  I.  p.  119. 

f  Captain  Cochrane's  Pedestrian  Journey,  p.  540. 


ON  THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  GYPSIES.  179 

provinces,  were,  no  doubt,  under  the  management  of  Indians  *.  In 
all  the  warlike  expeditions,  Timur,  after  he  had  invaded  India,  was  K^*~^r--~J 
attended  by  his  elephants,  and  also  by  his  hunting  establishment :  he 
must  therefore  have  had  a  great  number  of  dogs ;  and  the  care  of  those 
animals  is  one  of  the  occupations  of  the  pariah  Hindoos.  Bajazet 
was  taunted  by  Timur,  for  his  vanity  in  maintaining  twelve  thousand 
dog-keepers.  Timur,  very  probably,  in  that  capacity  employed  a  con- 
siderable number  of  Indians. 

After  Timur's  death,  A.D.  1405,  his  country  was  for  a  long  while  in 
the  utmost  confusion,  and  with  an  empty  treasury.  Ralph  Volaterius 
affirms,  that  the  Gypsies  first  proceeded  from  among  the  Uxii,  a  peo- 
ple of  Persia.  Munster  relates,  that  the  Gypsies  made  their  first  ap- 
pearance in  Germany,  in  1417,  in  pitiful  array;  though  they  affected 
quality,  and  travelled  with  a  train  of  hunting  dogs  after  them,  like  no- 
bles. Pope  Pius  II.  supposes  them  to  have  migrated  from  the  coun- 
try of  the  Zigi,  near  Circassia. 

The  Gypsies  are  called  Cingani,  or  Zingarii;  Egyptians;  Bohemi- 
ans; Saracens;  and  Tartars f.  They  are,  according  to  Sir  William 
Jones's  remarks,  Sanganians,  They  first  entered  Europe  from  Tarta- 
ry,  Syria,  and  Egypt;  both  of  the  latter  kingdoms  were  at  that  time 
under  one  monarch,  Farrudge,  son  of  Barkok.  When  they  reached  Bo- 
hemia, the  king  gave  them  passports  to  proceed  to  other  countries  %. 

Thus,  the  various  denominations  by  which  the  Gypsies  have  been 
known,  are  satisfactorily  accounted  for;  and  little,  if  any,  doubt  can  re- 

*  Upon  each  elephant  were  two-and-thirty  strong  men,  besides  the  Indian  that 
ruled  him.    1  Maccabees,  Ch.  VI.  37. 
f  Rees's  Encyc.    "  Egyptians." 

%  "  En  ces  annees  (1417)  il  commence  decourir  en  Allemagne  certaines  bandes 
de  vagabonds.    On  les  nommoit  Tartares  et  Zigens."  Mezeray. 


A  A  2 


ON  THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  GYPSIES. 

main,  that  they  were  the  Indians  brought  away  as  slaves  from 
Hindostan,  in  such  multitudes,  by  Timur;  and  who,  during  the  po- 
verty and  confusion*  caused  by  the  Emperor  Calil's  folly,  migrated  to 
Europe :  many  of  them  stealing  the  dogs,  in  order  to  procure  a  liveli- 
hood by  the  chace,  in  wild  countries ;  and  by  poaching,  in  those  that 
were  cultivated. 

Being  of  the  lowest  cast  in  their  own  country,  and  infidels  in  Per- 
sia, the  Gypsies  were  probably  despised  and  ill  treated,  as  slaves :  they 
would  therefore  naturally  expect  a  better  fate  among  any  other  peo- 
ple than  those  who  they  felt  had  so  cruelly  oppressed  them  and  their 
native  land. 

With  regard  to  their  having  entered  Europe  from  Egypt,  as  well  as 
from  other  countries,  it  is  very  probable,  that,  when  they  had  resolved 
on  deserting,  they  looked  towards  Egypt  in  preference;  from  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  inhabitants  somewhat  resembling  themselves,  and 
the  climate  and  religion  being  in  many  respects  similar  to  those  of  In- 
dia; nor  is  it  impossible  but  that,  in  their  ignorance,  (very  excusable, 
as  the  royal  pupil  of  Aristotle  mistook  the  Indus  for  the  Nilef) — 
they  might  imagine  Egypt  to  be  part  of  their  native  country :  but,  dis- 
covering their  mistake,  and,  probably,  being  refused  protection,  they 
wandered  they  knew  not  whither. 

*  "  And  I  ordained  that  in  every  kingdom  which  should  be  conquered,  the  men- 
dicants of  that  country  should  be  gathered  together;  aud  that  subsistence  and  daily 
bread  should  be  allowed  unto  them;  and  that  they  should  be  made  pensioners,  and 
beg  no  more.  And,  if  after  they  were  made  pensioners,  they  continued  the  prac- 
tice of  asking  alms,  I  commanded  that  they  should  be  sold  into  foreign  countries, 
or  expelled  from  the  realm;  that  the  race  of  beggars  might  become  extinct  in  my 
dominions."    Timur's  Inst.  p.  361. 

f  Strabo,  Geog.  lxv.    Arrian,  B.  VI.  Ch.  I. 


ON  THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  GYPSIES. 

Many  of  the  Gypsies  appear  to  have  fled  to  the  mountains  of  Cur- 
distan,  where  they  are  called  Kara-Shee,  or  the  Black  Race.  Their 
persons,  manners,  and  customs,  are  described  at  length  by  Sir  R.  K. 
Porter,  who  passed  through  a  large  encampment  of  these  singular 
people*.  There  are  many  of  the  Gypsy-tribe  at  Voronetz,  on  the 
river  Donf .  The  Gypsies  themselves  are  perhaps  not  in  the  least  ac- 
quainted with  their  own  origin. 

*  Porter's  Travels  in  Georgia,  Babylonia,  &c.  Vol.  II.  p.  528. 
f  Rees's  Encyc.  "  Woronetz." 


182 


CHAPTER  V. 


Of  Siberia. — —Described  in  Summer.  Fertility.  Wild 

animals.  Magnificent  scenery.  Mongol  sovereigns.  

Coronation  of  the  Grand  Khan  Keyuc  at  Olougyourt.  

Invaded  from  China  and  India  beyond  the  Ganges.  Im- 
mense armies  stationed  on  the  Irtish,  and  battles  in  the  Thir- 
teenth Century.  Invasions  of  Tamerlane,  Fourteenth  Cen- 
tury. Tombs;  Elephants'  bones,  golden  Chess-boards  and 

men,  golden  plates  §c.  found  in  them.  Note  on  the  Con- 
quest of  Russia  by  Baton,  grandson  of  Genghis.  Tam- 
erlane invades  Russia.  His  terrible  battle  with  the  Khan 

of  Capschac  described. 

CHAP.    SlBERIA  was  not  known  to  the  Russians  till  the  middle  of  the 

y 

^^L^/  sixteenth  century.  A  Russian  merchant  named  Strogonoff  had  esta- 
blished salt-works  in  the  government  of  Archangel,  and  traded  with 
the  north-western  Siberians,  for  the  valuable  furs  which  they  brought 
to  him ;  and  by  which  he  acquired  a  considerable  fortune.  The  Czar 
Ivan  Vassilivitch  II.  sent  some  troops  to  endeavour  to  open  a  com- 
merce with  the  natives;  and  one  of  the  chiefs  consented  to  pay  an 
annual  tribute  of  a  thousand  sables  ;  but  that  chief  being  taken  pri- 
soner by  Kutchum  Khan,  a  descendant  of  the  great  Genghis,  and 


A  Russian  merchant  named  Si"02«-:i 


■■aketi  v 


ZOOLOGY.— BOTANY.— MINERALOGY.  183 

sovereign  of  Sibir,  there  was  no  further  intercourse  till  the  year  1577,  CHAP, 
when  Timofeyef  Yermak,  a  Don  Cossack,  being  defeated  by  the  <w^-Y^-/ 
Czar's  troops,  in  the  province  of  Cazan,  retired  eastward  with  a  few 
thousands  of  his  adherents.  He  crossed  the  Ural  mountains.  He  dis- 
covered and  attacked  the  Mogul  monarch  of  Sibir,  whom  he  defeated ; 
and  Yermak  gained  a  rich  booty,  in  jewels,  furs  &c.  He,  after  a 
while,  travelled  to  Moscow,  was  favourably  received  by  the  Czar,  and 
supplied  with  succours,  with  which  he  returned  to  his  companions  at 
Sibir :  and  in  an  action  with  the  Moguls,  he  was  drowned,  in  the  year 
1584.  The  conquest  was  shortly  afterwards  completed  by  his  suc- 
cessors. 

Siberia  is  so  rich  in  zoology  and  botany,  that,  as  Mr.  Pennant  ob- 
serves, the  discovery  of  America  has  scarcely  imparted  a  greater 
number  of  objects  to  the  naturalist ;  the  mineralogy  is  equally  fertile 
and  interesting. 

In  1621,  the  first  archbishop,  whose  name  was  Cyprian,  was  appointed 
to  reside  at  Sibir*. 

About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  all  Siberia  was  sub- 
jected.   No  known  part  of  the  earth  is  so  cold  as  that  country — 

"  Our  infant  Winter  sinks, 
Divested  of  his  grandeur,  should  our  eye, 
Astonish'd,  shoot  into  the  Frigid  Zone. 
Wide  roams  the  Russian  exile.    Nought  around 
Strikes  his  sad  eye,  but  deserts  lost  in  snow, 
And  heavy  loaded  groves ;  and  solid  floods, 
That  stretch  athwart  the  solitary  vast, 
Their  icy  horrors  to  the  frozen  main. 


Levesque  Histoire  de  Russie;  and  Tooke's  Hist,  of  Russia,  Vol.  I. 


INTENSE  HEAT.— RAPID  VEGETATION. 

Yet  clierish'd  there,  beneath  the  shining  waste, 
The  furry  nations  harbour. 

Rough  tenant  of  these  shades,  the  shapeless  bear, 
With  dangling  ice  all  horrid,  stalks  forlorn." —  Thomson. 

Such  is  the  general,  and,  perhaps,  sometimes  the  only  impression  on 
the  minds  of  many  persons  respecting  these  gigantic  regions ;  and  as 
most  travellers  have  passed  through  them,  while  the  ground  was  co- 
vered with  snow ;  every  reader  is  too  well  acquainted  with  the  descrip- 
tion of  Siberia  in  winter,  for  it  to  be  requisite  to  repeat  it  here;  but  a 
space  comprising  a  hundred  and  thirty  degrees  of  longitude;  and  from 
the  latitude  of  Normandy,  to  within  fifteen  degrees  of  the  north-pole ; 
and  more  extensive  than  all  Europe,  must,  of  necessity,  be  very  vari- 
ous in  climate  and  productions.  The  following  extracts,  from  some 
intelligent  travellers,  show  that  it  is  a  most  magnificent  and  abundant 
country,  in  very  many  places,  and  much  higher  in  the  north  than  is 
generally  imagined. 

"  The  severe  winters  are  rapidly  succeeded  by  summers  of  such 
intense  heat,  that  the  Tungusians  of  the  province  of  Yakutsk  go  al- 
most naked.  Towards  the  frozen  ocean  the  sun  is  continually  above 
the  horizon  in  that  season,  and  the  vegetables  and  fruits  of  the  earth 
are  extremely  quick  in  their  growth. 

The  Russians  are  supplied  with  corn  from  the  southern  part  of  Si- 
beria, where  the  soil  is  surprisingly  fertile. 

The  countries  east  of  Baikal  to  the  river  Argun  are  remarkably 
fruitful  and  pleasant*." 

At  Narym  (Lat  59°  5 ')  there  is  plenty  of  sterlet  and  other  fine  fish, 
too  numerous  to  mention.  Near  the  town  are  a  few  corn-fields,  and  gar- 


*  See  Rees's  Cyc.    "  Siberia." 


SWEDISH  PRISONERS.— PLENTIFUL  COUNTRY.  185 

den  grounds,  abounding  with  greens  and  roots.  Here,  says  Mr.  Bell,  CHAP. 
I  met  Mr.  Borlutt,  a  native  of  Flanders,  who  had  been  a  major  in  the  ^^-^—^j 
Swedish  service,  and  was  sent  to  this  place  a  prisoner  of  war.  He 
was  a  very  ingenious  gentleman,  and  had  a  particular  turn  for  mechan- 
ics. The  commandant  treated  him  more  like  a  friend  than  a  prisoner ; 
which  indeed  was  the  case  of  most  of  those  unfortunate  gentlemen, 
whom  the  fate  of  war  had  sent  to  this  country.  His  Czarish  Majesty, 
well  considering  their  circumstances,  sent  them  to  a  plentiful  country, 
where  they  could  live  at  their  ease  till  peace  was  restored. 

At  Jenesai,  the  country  is  pleasant  and  fertile.  On  the  first  of 
August  the  barley  was  all  reaped,  and  the  people  were  cutting  their 
oats.  This  is  early  so  far  to  the  north  (Lat  58°  16'),  and  must  proceed 
from  the  heat  of  the  summer  and  the  snow  lying  so  long*." 


*'  The  Ostiacs,  though  not  a  civilized  people,  are  far  from  being 
barbarous.  A  single  Russian  may  travel  among  them  to  purchase  furs 
without  fear  of  violence.  They  are  remarkably  honest,  and  are  punc- 
tual in  bringing  the  tribute  of  furs  for  the  Czar.  Many  of  them  are 
fair,  and  resemble  the  people  of  Finland.  They  are  stout  fellows: 
two  of  them,  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  a  short  spear,  and  a  little 
dog,  will  attack  the  largest  bear.  They  supplied  us  with  plenty  of 
fish,  and  wild  fowl  of  various  sorts,  for  a  little  tobacco  and  a  dram  of 
brandy;  and  they  ask  no  more,  not  knowing  the  use  of  money. 

*        *         #  # 

*  Journey  to  Pekin  from  St  Petersburg-,  A.  D.  1719,  (nine  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  sixty-seven  versts,  or  about  six  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  British  miles,  by  Mr.  B's.  route  on  his  return). 

BB 


SHORT  WINTER. — GAME. — PLEASANT  LIFE. 

On  the  journey  to  Irkoutsk,  says  Mr.  Bell,  I  called  on  General  Kan- 
nifer,  at  Elimsk,  who  had  been  adjutant-general  to  Charles  XII.  He 
had  a  musk  deer,  of  which  there  are  many  in  Siberia,  so  tame  that 
it  followed  him  like  a  dog,  and  leaped  upon  the  table  to  eat  the 
crumbs.  *  *  *  Along  the  tall  thick  woody  banks  of  the  Lena,  there 
is  abundance  of  game  and  wild  beasts.  The  natives  of  Yakutsk  differ 
little  from  the  Tungusians  in  person  or  way  of  life.  In  summer  they 
make  hay  enough  to  feed  their  cattle  in  winter.  *  *  *  We  arrived  on 
the  ice,  March  14,  at  Balaganski,  on  the  Angara:  on  each  bank  it  is 
a  fine  champaign  country,  with  tall  woods,  beautiful  and  extensive 
prospects,  well  peopled  villages,  corn  fields,  and  fruitful  plains,  and 
every  where  great  abundance  of  fish.  The  Burats  were  formerly  sub- 
ject to  a  prince  of  the  Monguls ;  they  are  honest  and  sincere  people, 
and  have  plenty  of  cattle :  the  wild  goats  have  long  thick  horns,  brown 
shaggy  coats,  and  are  twice  the  size  of  ours;  the  sheep  have  broad  tails, 
and  the  mutton  is  excellent.  For  their  horses,  cattle,  goats,  and  sheep, 
they  make  no  provision  of  fodder:  but  leave  them  to  the  open  fields, 
the  snow  being  seldom  deep  in  these  parts.  They  have  a  high  priest 
called  Delai  Lama.  *  *  *  March  17 — The  heat  of  the  sun  was  intense, 
and  the  snow  suddenly  disappeared:  in  four  days  we  passed  from  a 
cold  winter  to  a  warm  spring,  and  we  quitted  our  sledges.  The 
Burats  killed  some  hares  with  arrows . 

At  the  falls  of  the  Angara,  and  about  lake  Baikal,  there  are  such 
astonishing  scenes  of  nature  as  are  not,  I  believe,  to  be  equalled  in 
the  known  world.  On  the  south  side  of  the  lake,  the  country  is  very 
pleasant,  the  winters  short,  and  the  snow  does  not  lie  above  six  or 
eight  weeks.  There  is  plenty  of  all  kinds  of  game,  deer,  bears,  wolves, 
&c.  The  Mongols,  even  the  prince  and  high  priest,  live  constantly 
in  tents,  and  remove  as  convenience  requires ;  which  I  must  confess 
is  a  very  pleasant  life,  in  such  a  mild  and  dry  climate.  *  *  *  We 


ABUNDANT  AND  FINE  COUNTRY. 


187 


killed  in  these  parts  five  large  elks,  four  stags,  twenty  antelopes,  some  CHAP. 

y 

large  bustards,  a  dozen  roebucks,  wolves,  hares,  &c.  Siberia  is  an  ex-  ^ ~  J^, 
cellent  country,  and  abounds  with  all  things  necessary  for  the  use  of 
man  and  beast.  The  noblest  rivers  in  the  world  *,  and  store  of  such 
fine  fish,  as  are  seldom  found  in  other  countries.  And  as  to  woods 
furnished  with  all  sorts  of  game  and  wild  fowl,  no  country  can  exceed 
it.  It  contains  no  high  mountains,  except  towards  China,  where  are 
pleasant  hills  and  fruitful  vallies,  and  there  are  few  places,  where  life 
might  be  passed  more  agreeably  than  in  some  parts  of  Siberia  f .  *;  *  * 

In  February  and  March,  the  Yakutes  cut  down  the  young  pine  trees, 
while  the  sap  is  rising,  take  off  the  inner  bark,  and  dry  it  for  their 
winter  provision ;  they  beat  it  into  fine  powder,  and  boil  it  in  milk, 
with  dried  and  powdered  fish.  They  shift  their  habitations  like  the 
Tobolskians.  They  bury  their  dead  various  ways:  the  most  eminent 
make  choice  of  a  fine  tree,  as  their  burial  spot :  some  of  their  move- 
ables are  buried  with  them.  Their  language  is  like  that  of  the  Crimea 
and  Tobolsk  Tartars 

The  quantity  of  hay  collected  for  the  cattle  (near  Yakutsk)  is  pro- 
digious §.  *  *  * 

"  The  Baikal  Sea,  or  the  Holy  Sea,  is  about  four  hundred  miles  English 
from  north  to  south ;  and  in  breadth,  from  fifteen  to  fifty  miles ;  it  is 

*  The  Lena  is  live  thousand  versts  in  length,  (about  three  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty  miles  English). 

f  Bell  of  Antermony.  At  Telinginsk  a  Mongol  chief,  named  Taysha,  a  subject 
of  the  Czar,  dined  with  the  ambassador.  He  was  a  mer  ry  old  man,  near  four  score, 
but  so  vigorous  that  he  mounted  his  horse  with  agility.  His  five  sons  and  attend- 
ants treated  him  with  equal  respect  as  a  king,  and  would  not  sit  in  his  presence. 
In  his  youth,  he  had  often  fought  against  the  Chinese,  whom  he  held  in  great 
contempt.  One  of  the  company,  who  was  fat,  asked  the  chief  what  he  should 
do  to  be  as  lean  as  he  was?  "Eat  less  and  work  more,"  replied  the  old  man. 
t  Strahlenberg,  p.  382. 

§  Captain  Cochrane,  p.  443. 

B  B  2 


188  BLACK  SABLES.— SWEET  FLOWERS.— BEAUTIFUL  BIRDS. 

CHAP,    surrounded  with  high  and,  mostly,  bare  mountains.    Towards  the  Iat- 
x^af^m^/  ter  end  of  December,  it  is  usually  frozen  over,  and  the  ice  breaks  up 
in  the  beginning  of  May.    The  water  is  uncommonly  clear.  The 
lake  is  subject  to  violent  storms:  it  abounds  in  fish,  and  contains  plen- 
ty of  seals  §. 

"  On  the  10th  of  May  1693,  we  arrived  at  Irkutsk  on  the  Angara; 
and  found  lake  Baikal  still  frozen.  On  the  camels  we  put  boots  shod 
for  the  ice.  In  the  breaks  of  the  ice,  there  are  numbers  of  black 
seals. 

After  crossing  a  barren  mountainous  country,  we  arrived  at  Nerts- 
chinsk,  on  the  20th,  where  there  are  grass  grounds  to  feed  their  camels, 
horses,  and  cattle.  The  environs  produce  white  and  yellow  lilies,  red 
and  white  pionies  of  a  charming  scent  and  of  several  sorts;  lavender, 
thyme,  rosemary,  and  many  odoriferous  plants,  unknown  in  other 
countries.    There  are  black  sables  of  exquisite  beauty. 

We  left  Nertschinsk  and  proceeded  to  Mongol  Tartary.  From  the 
river  Kalar  to  the  Jalischian  mountains,  the  vallies  are  wholly  covered 
with  fine  grass :  the  mountains  are  stocked  with  all  sorts  of  herbs  and 
flowers.  The  country  abounds  with  large  harts,  roebucks,  wild  sheep, 
in  herds  of  many  hundreds:  wild  geese,  ducks,  turkies,  (bustards  ?), 
partridges.  On  the  river  Jala  are  fine  oak  and  lime  trees,  and  small 
hazel  bushes  covered  with  nuts.  *  *  *  We  now  reached  the  first 
Chinese  guard.  The  charming  banks  of  the  river  Jala,  southward,  is 
a  perfect  paradise ;  beautiful  pastures,  silver  streams,  the  pleasantest 
woods  in  the  world,  fine  towering  hills,  and,  for  a  mile  and  a  half  on 
each  side,  a  perfect  warren  of  wild  game,  harts,  tigers,  panthers,  wild 
swine,  extraordinarily  beautiful  partridges,  the  feathers  of  which  are 
of  several  colours,  and  their  tails  about  an  ell  long:  they  are  very  like 
pheasants  in  shape,  size,  and  taste:  they  harbour  in  plain  fields,  in  the 

*  Tooke,  Vol.  I.  p.  241. 


RUINS  OF  CARACORUM. 


189 


long  grass,  and  in  low  nut  bushes:  in  their  flight  they  clap  their  CHAP, 
wings  as  loud  as  a  stork.  v^-vr-**. 

After  four  days  travelling  without  seeing  a  house,  we  came  to  an 
old  ruined  city,  encompassed  with  a  quadrangular  mud  wall,  a  Ger- 
man mile  in  its  whole  extent.  In  six  days  we  reached  another  old 
desolate  city,  called  Taimingzin,  fortified  with  a  square  wall.  Carved 
upon  the  stones,  there  were  several  images  of  great  personages  or 
kings,  as  big  as  life,  sitting  with  their  feet  under  them:  and  queens 
folding  their  hands,  with  crowns  upon  their  heads  with  rays  or  lustres, 
which  seemed  to  hint  that  this  tower  was  built  by  Christians.  Other 
parts  represent  warriors  with  pikes,  in  the  Chinese  manner,  and  the 
king,  bare-headed,  with  a  sceptre  in  his  hand:  the  by-standers  have 
diabolical  visages.  The  proportions  of  these  images  are  so  exact,  that 
they  look  like  the  work  of  Europeans.  Several  heaps  of  bricks  lay 
about,  and  stone  statues,  as  big  as  life,  of  men,  idols,  lions,  and  tor- 
toises. The  bulwarks  were  extraordinarily  large  and  high.  This 
great  city  had  but  four  entrances,  into  which  ran  multitudes  of  hares*. 

*  The  number  of  tigers,  and  the  quantity  of  game,  in  these  parts  of  Tartary, 
between  China  and  Siberia,  must  be  prodigious. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  June,  16S9,  Father  Gerbillon  mentions  that,  on  the  embassy 
to  Nertshinsk  from  Pekin,  they  saw  many  thousands  of  wild  yellow  goats  on  the 
banks  of  the  Kerlon. 

The  tigers,  says  Du  Halde,  are  surprisingly  Iarg-e,  of  a  fallow-red  and  striped 
with  black:  some  are  white,  with  black  and  grey  stripes.  The  wild  camels  are 
so  swift,  that  the  hunters  can  seldom  reach  them  with  their  arrows.  The  han-ta- 
han  resembles  the  elk,  they  delight  in  bog-gy  ground,  and  some  we  killed  were 
bigger  than  the  largest  ox. 

On  a  party  with  the  Emperor,  Pere  Verbiest  saw  above  a  thousand  stags,  en- 
closed in  one  circle.  On  this  journey,  bears,  wild  boars,  and  above  sixty  tigers 
were  killed:  a  wild  mule,  of  a  yellow  colour,  was  seen;  two  or  three  hundred 
hares,  aud  vast  numbers  of  wolves  and  foxes  were  taken  in  one  day:  partridges 
rose  in  flights  like  starlings. 

The  Emperor's  horses,  and  those  of  the  grandees,  are  as  large  and  handsome  as 
those  of  Europe.    The  Emperor  tires  eight  or  ten  horses  every  day. 


190 


IMMENSITY  OF  GAME.— TIGERS.— BEARS. 


CELAP.  The  Chinese  relate  that  many  centuries  past,  Ungkhan,  a  Tartar 
v^-v-w  king,  governed  here,  but  was  conquered  by  a  Chinese  king  #. 

On  the  expedition,  in  1691,  the  Emperor's  quarters  contained  four  enclosures: 
in  the  quarter  for  the  grandees,  were  the  trumpets,  drums,  music,  four  elephants 
sumptously  harnessed,  and  all  the  ensigns  of  imperial  dignity,  for  the  ceremony 
of  receiving  homage  of  the  Kalka  princes  and  the  Grand  Lama. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  we  killed  above  fifty  yellow  goats:  we  roused  a  tiger;  it 
took  shelter  on  a  hill  in  a  thicket;  the  dogs  barked  around  him,  he  sprang  forth, 
the  Emperor  followed  him  closely,  fired  twice,  and  killed  him. 

In  September,  1692,  the  Emperor  sent  for  five  hundred  Korchin  Mongols,  who 
are  excellent  hunters.  We  killed  eighty-two  large  stags  and  roebucks,  one  stag 
weighed  upwards  of  five  hundred  pounds.  On  the  23rd,  we  killed  fifty  stags:  the 
Emperor's  horse  fell  as  he  was  pursuing-  a  roebuck,  but  his  Majesty  was  not 
hurt. 

On  the  25th,  we  pursued  a  bear,  the  Emperor  pierced  his  flank  with  an  arrow, 
the  bear  gave  a  dreadful  roar,  and  endeavouring  to  pull  out  the  arrow,  broke  it  to 
pieces;  his  Majesty  dispatched  him  with  a  half  pike:  he  was  six  feet  from  the 
head  to  the  root  of  the  tail,  his  hair  long,  black,  shining,  and  very  fine. 

In  June,  1696,  the  Emperor's  troops  gained  a  victory  over  the  Eleuths,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Kerlon :  among  the  spoil  were  five  thousand  camels,  seventy  thou- 
sand sheep,  &c. 

On  one  day  in  this  year,  the  hunting  party  killed  one  thousand  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  hares,  and  every  day  a  great  number  of  pheasants,  and  hares.  See 
Du  Halde,  Vol.  II.  from  page  254  to  360. 

The  Emperor,  Kam-hi,  was  still  living,  when  Mr.  Bell  was  at  Pekin,  with  the 
ambassador  IsmailofF,  sent  by  the  Czar  Peter.  Kam-hi  was  then  sixty  years  on 
the  throne,  and  sixty  eight  years  of  age:  he  still  retained  a  sound  judgment,  and 
his  senses  were  entire:  he  was  good  natured,  affable,  and  more  sprightly  than 
many  of  his  sons.  The  Emperor's  general  of  the  artillery  assured  Mr.  B.,  and  it 
was  confirmed  by  Kam-hi  himself,  that  gunpowder  had  been  used  by  them  in 
fire-works,  above  two  thousand  years;  but  that  it  was  a  late  introduction  in  war. 
Mr.  B.  says,  the  fire-works  outdid  common  fame,  and  far  surpassed  the  perform- 
ances exhibited  at  St  Petersburg  by  the  best  artists  in  Europe. 

*  Isbrandt's  Ides,  in  Le  Bruyn,  and  in  Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  II.  938.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  but  that  these  cities  were  Caracorum  and  Olougyourt.  See  the 
Chapter  on  Genghis.  The  Nestorians  had  places  of  worship  here,  and  there  were 
artists  from  Europe.  With  respect  to  the  rays  round  the  heads  of  the  queens, 
"  Genghis's  flatterers  had  the  insolence  to  make  him  pass  for  the  Son  of  God,  but 


CHILDREN  OF  THE  SUN.  191 
«  We  reached  Kara  Katon,  encompassed  with  oaken  palisadoes  as  a  CHAP, 
defence  from  tigers  and  leopards;  multitudes  of  them,  and  also  wild  v.^^-^ 
boars  and  deer,  harbouring  in  the  grass  and  woods;  so  that  no  one 
dare  travel  at  night.    All  the  camels,  asses,  and  cattle,  have  bells  about 
their  necks,  to  frighten  the  beasts.    To  this  place  the  Emperor  comes 
to  hunt.    We  observed  here  a  sort  of  heron  with  a  neck  and  breast 
white,  and  the  wings  and  tail  of  a  bright  scarlet ;  the  flesh  firm  and 
good :  also  another  bird  as  big  as  a  parrot,  with  a  crooked  bill,  a  tail 
an  ell  long,  and  checkered  with  all  sorts  of  fine  colours.    We  arrived 
at  the  boundaries  on  the  3d  of  August. 

*         *         *  * 


On  the  19th  of  February,  1694,  the  envoy  set  out  on  his  return 
from  Pekin.  He  had  left  a  number  of  camels  and  horses  at  Numa,  of 
which  only  eight  hundred  remained ;  the  rest  having  been  killed  by 
bad  food:  others  were  accordingly  provided. 

The  party  crossed  a  desert  marshy  country,  and  lost  eighteen 
camels  in  one  clay  in  the  bogs.  Near  the  river  Gan,  they  killed  fifty 
wild  deer. 

From  Argun,  where  there  is  a  silver  mine  which  the  people  of 
Dauria  and  Nieuchen  formerly  made  use  of,  to  Nertschinsk,  is  ten 
days'  journey  on  camels.    This  fine  country  is  full  of  small  rivers  and 

his  mother,  more  modest,  said  only,  that  he  was  the  Child  of  the  Sun.  But  not 
being  bold  enough  to  aver,  that  she  was  personally  beloved  by  that  glorious  body, 
she  pretended  to  derive  this  fabulous  honour  from  Genghis's  ninth  predecessor, 
Buzengir,  the  root  of  the  Mogul  Emperors;  whose  mother,  when  a  widow,  lived  a 
retired  life.  Being  accused  of  a  crime,  (pregnancy),  she  was  carried  before  the 
judge:  she  said,  that  she  had  not  had  conversation  with  any  man;  but  that  when 
upon  her  bed,  a  light  appeared,  and  penetrated  three  times  into  her  body.  Dela 
Croix,  p.  9. 


192  CEDARS. — LAKE  BAIKAL.— SUBLIME  SCENERY. 

CRAP,  the  most  beautiful  flowers:  in  the  hills  and  vales,  the  grass  is  three 
feet  high*.  "  On  this  journey  many  hardships  were  suffered  from  fa- 
tigue, marshes,  and  hunger ;  and  in  a  desert  the  grass  was  some  how 
set  on  fire,  and  burnt  about  a  dozen  of  the  foremost  row  of  their  tents, 
with  the  most  astonishing  rapidity.  Great  quantities  of  their  goods 
were  consumed,  and  fourteen  men  miserably  burnt. 

From  the  54th  to  the  57th  degree  of  latitude,  and  including  the 
south  part  of  Siberia,  and  all  Dauria,  the  air  is  pretty  temperate,  and 
produces  all  manner  of  fruits  and  vegetables,  and  corn  in  abundance: 
there  are  few  mountains,  forests,  or  morasses;  many  rivers  and  lakes; 
all  sorts  of  venison,  wild- fowl,  fish,  cray-fish;  and  much  honey  and 
cattle:  in  short,  the  inhabitants  are  in  want  of  nothing  but  winef. 

The  regions  of  Nertshinsk  present  numerous  forests  of  the  pinus 
sylvestris,  larch,  birch,  firs,  and  cedars  j,  which  produce  boards  near 
four  feet  wide§.  The  nuts  of  the  cedar  are  in  such  abundance,  as  to 
be  exported  to  all  parts  of  northern  Siberia. 

The  sublime  scenery  on  the  approach  to  Baikal  may  be  considered 
as  one  of  the  noblest  sights  in  the  world;  and  that  also  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Ingoda  not  less  delightful,  when  contrasted  with  the 
beautiful  and  fertile  pastures  every  where  around  ||. 

There  is  a  curious  lusas  naturee  on  the  Shamane  promontory  of  lake 

*  Isbrandts  Ides,  in  Harris,  Vol.  II.  p.  938.  See  also  his  Travels,  in  Le  Bruyn. 
While  the  envoy  was  at  Pekin,  the  Emperor  had  four  animals,  which  he  had  re- 
ceived from  an  island  in  the  Eastern  Sea.  They  were  as  big  as  ordinary  horses, 
and  each  had  two  sharp  horns  prominent  before.  The  missionaries  had  never  seen 
such  before.  The  envoy  had  not  time  to  go  to  the  Emperor's  park  to  inspect 
them. 

t  Strahlenberg,  pp.  182,  354.    Chappe  D'Auteroche,  p.  251. 

X  Rees's  Encyc.   "  Nertschinsk  and  Siberia." 

§  Strahlenberg,  p.  346. 

||  Capt.  Cochrane,  pp.  405,  474,  477. 


EXTRAORDINARY  ROCKS.— PORPOISES.— BIRDS  OF  PREY. 


193 


Baikal;  namely,  three  rocks  adjacent  to  each  other,  upwards  of  two  CHAP, 
hundred  feet  in  height  ahove  the  water's  level.  Their  tops  resemble  v^-y-^. 
human  heads  with  caps  on  them :  of  the  middlemost,  the  nose  is  seven 
feet  in  length ;  in  the  slit  of  the  mouth,  two  families  of  sea-gulls  are 
commodiously  lodged:  even  the  eye-brows  are  not  wanting;  but  there 
is  no  trace  of  an  ear.  The  Tunguses  revere  these  rocks  as  the  sea- 
god  Dianda,  with  his  two  subordinate  deities:  he  is  able  to  save 
any  Tunguse  from  being  drowned,  or  to  cause  a  good  draught  of 
fishes. 

Fifteen  hundred  or  two  thousand  porpoises  (although  the  water  is 
fresh)  are  annually  captured,  by  being  shot  or  pierced  with  javelins, 
through  the  holes  in  the  ice:  sturgeon,  quab,  carp,  trout,  pike,  and 
vast  quantities  of  the  omul,  are  produced  in  the  lake. 

Such  numbers  of  birds  of  prey,  mews,  herons,  gulls,  &c.  arrive  in 
April,  which  feed  on  the  omuls,  (salmo  migratorius ),  that  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  pass  along  the  rocks,  their  nests  are  so  numerous.  There 
are  rein  deer  on  the  north  shore ;  the  wild  boars  are  silver-grey,  and 
scarce.  The  woods  are  overrun  with  bears,  which  serve  for  food;  also 
with  wolves,  elks,  stags,  roebucks,  sables;  ermines  so  numerous,  that 
a  contract  for  twenty  thousand  may  be  completed  in  two  days;  squir- 
rels, and  white  hares.  There  are  many  islands  in  this  great  lake ;  on 
which  grow  pines,  poplars,  beech,  and  willows*. 

In  the  south  part  of  Siberia  there  is  a  steppe,  six  or  seven  hundred 
versts  long,  where  there  are  few  rivers,  but  very  fertile.  One  may 
ride  several  days  through  vast  fields,  full  of  cherry  trees  two  or  three 
feet  high.  They  are  prevented  from  growing  higher  by  the  negli- 
gence of  travellers,  who  leave  their  fires  burning ;  and  the  grass,  being 


*  Rees's  Encyc.    "  Baikal." 


cc 


WILD  TULIPS,  SWEET  HERBS,  TURNIPS,  ASPARAGUS. — ELKS. 

long  and  dry,  catches  fire,  and  burns  for  thirty  or  forty  versts,  with 
such  rapidity  as  to  endanger  the  traveller. 

The  cherries  are  red  and  handsome,  but  sour:  transplanted  they 
become  good.  There  are  in  this  forest  tulips,  red  roses,  others  like 
damask  roses;  asparagus,  larger  and  finer  than  ours;  onions,  marjo- 
ram, thyme,  succory,  sage,  endive  or  white  succory;  and  other  flowers, 
herbs,  and  roots,  which  we  with  great  care  raise  in  our  gardens:  the 
turnip  is  frequently  met  with  there.  In  Samoyedia,  they  have  good 
parsnips  and  carrots*. 

Near  the  river  Wytzera,  they  generally  kill,  annually,  four  hundred 
losses,  or  elks  f . 

At  Jenesai,  (lat.  58°  30'),  corn,  butchers'  meat,  and  poultry,  abound. 
It  is  too  cold  for  fruit,  except  gooseberries  and  strawberries.  The  in- 
habitants of  Fugunia,  farther  down  the  river,  send  out  ships  annually 
to  catch  whales. 

At  Shamanskoi,  on  the  river  Hay,  there  is  a  great  fall  or  cataract, 
half  a  league  in  extent,  which  is  terrible  to  behold,  and  is  heard  at  the 
distance  of  three  German  leagues.  The  tops  of  the  rocks  that  cause 
the  falls  are  so  covered  with  odoriferous  plants  and  flowers,  that  the 
circumambient  air  is  filled  with  their  fragrance  J. 

The  Tunguses,  both  men  and  women,  go  naked  in  the  summer,  except 
a  leathern  girdle,  and  carry  a  vessel  full  of  smoking  wood,  to  keep  off 
the  insects  which  swarm  on  the  river  Tungusa.  In  winter  they  wear 
skins,  having  no  use  of  linen  or  woollen.    In  hunting  they  wear  the 

*  Memoirs  of  a  French  Gentleman,  who  had  served  in  the  Russian  army:  ba- 
nished in  the  reign  of  Alexis,  about  1670.  Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  II.  p.  483. — 
At  Krasnaia  Sloboda,  there  is  abundance  of  asparagus  of  extraordinary  height,  and 
delicious  flavour.    Encyc.  Brit.    "  Siberia." 

f  Strahlenberg,  p.  361. 

+  Pere  Avril,  p.  182. 


IMMENSITY  OF  WILD  SHEEP — GRAND  SCENERY.  195 

skin  of  the  rein  deer  with  the  horns  on ;  when  they  glide  along  the  CHAP, 
grass,  and  are  sure  to  dispatch  the  game  with  their  arrows.  The  me-  \^>~y~**~j 
thod  of  the  Burats  is  to  surround  a  certain  limit  and  to  close  in  the 
game  by  degrees.  They  go  on  horseback,  and  few  escape  their  heavy 
broad  arrows.  Their  country  swarms  with  fallow  deer,  stags,  musk 
deer  with  tusks,  rein  deer,  bears,  wild  sheep  by  thousands  upon  the 
mountains,  and  wolves. 

Those  who  buy  camels  of  them,  pay  about  fifty-five  livres  each, 
in  silks,  red  cloth,  ingots  of  gold  or  silver.  Their  beeves  have  very 
thick  hair.  *  *  *. 

Makofskoi  on  the  Ket,  abounds  with  heath-game,  pheasants,  and 
partridges:  it  is  a  pleasure  to  see  them  in  flocks  in  a  morning  and 
evening,  drinking  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  where  you  may  kill  what 
number  you  please.  There  are  here  red  and  black  gooseberries 
strawberries,  and  raspberries.  We  had  scarcely  left  this  village,  on  the 
7th  of  October,  when  it  began  to  freeze  *. 

The  Ket  is  overshadowed  with  trees,  and  very  dismal ;  the  banks 
abound  with  wild  beasts,  the  black  currants  are  the  largest  and  best  I 
ever  ate  or  saw.    I  was  told,  the  bears  feed  much  on  themf . 

The  last  stage  in  approaching  Krasnoyarsk,  is  richly  luxuriant 
on  both  sides  of  the  Jenesai,  which  rolls  its  picturesque  course  over 
a  rich  and  well  cultivated  soil.  The  vicinity  may  boast  situations  for 
the  dwellings  of  a  prince,  peasant,  or  philosopher.  The  extremes  of 
weather,  are  from  32°  of  heat,  to  40°  of  frost,  by  Reaumur  J. 

What  can  surpass  the  scene  at  Malaya  Narimka  I  know  not; 

*  Isb.  Ides.  t  Bell,  Ch.  XIII. 

+  By  Fahrenheit  104°  and  58°  below  0  "  December  7,  1786,  at  Usting-  Veliki, 

latitude  60°  50',  the  quicksilver  froze  to  a  solid  mass,  so  as  to  bear  beating"  with  a 
hammer  in  a  warm  room,  several  times,  before  any  pieces  flew  off  from  it.  Reau- 
mur's thermometer  fell  in  one  day,  from  40°  to  51°."    Vide  Tooke,  Vol.  I.  p.  32. 
c  c  2 


196  WILD  HORSES.— FINE  WILD  OXEN.— STRIPED  ASSES. 

CHAP,  some  of  the  loftiest  granite  mountains,  enclosing  the  most  luxuriant 
vallies  in  the  world :  all  abandoned  to  wild  beasts,  to  constitute  a  neu- 
tral territory*." 


The  Jenesai  thawed  on  the  8th  of  April,  and  in  three  weeks  the 
country  resumed  its  verdure  f.  These  districts  are  so  fertile,  that,  by 
leaving  the  ground  fallow  the  third  year,  it  continues  bearing  summer 
corn,  and  winter  rye  fifteen  years  and  upwards.  Winter  wheats  are 
not  known  J. 

In  the  woods  near  Tomsk  are  oxen  with  a  high  shoulder  and  flow- 
ing tail,  like  a  horse ;  not  so  large  as  the  urus :  there  are  wild  asses, 
the  hair  waved  white  and  brown,  like  a  tiger ;  and  chesnut-coloured 
wild  horses,  which  are  not  tameable,  The  town  of  Jenesai  is  pleasant, 
and  populous.  There  is  a  market  for  furs  of  all  sorts,  one  skin  of  a 
black  fox  being  worth  five  hundred  crowns  or  more.  On  the  1st  of 
March,  we  saw  five  or  six  hundred  hares,  as  white  as  snow.  The  Tun- 
guses  are  descended  from  the  ancient  inhabitants,  and  worship  the 
sun  and  moon :  they  will  attack  the  fiercest  bears  §. 

"At  Tobolsk,  we  dug  four  feet  deep  without  finding  the  earth  frozen, 
and  I  then  thrust  a  sword  into  it  with  the  utmost  ease  to  the  hilt.  It 
is  certain  that  the  ground  at  Tobolsk  thaws  entirely :  this  made  me 
cautious  of  advancing  facts  from  hearsay.  The  numerous  mistakes 
of  travellers  arise  from  credulity,  rather  than  from  a  want  of  truth  ||." 

The  country  about  Tobolsk  is  well  peopled.  A  hundred  weight  of 
barley  flower  costs  sixteen  copecks,  (one  hundred  copecks  make  a 

*  Capt.  Cochrane,  pp.  152,  173.  f  Chappe  d' Auteroche,  p.  247. 

t  Tooke,  Vo  .  III.  p.  268.  §  Bell  of  Antermony,  pp.  212,  229. 

||  Chappe  d'Auteroche. 


CEDARS.— FISH,  FLESH,  FOWL,  WILD  BEASTS,  FURS. 


197 


ruble),  a  hog  thirty-five  copecks,  a  sturgeon  six  copecks,  an  ox  six  or  CHAP, 
seven  florins.    This  country  produces  a  number  of  elks,  stags,  deer,  ^•-■v~-**- 
hares,  pheasants,  partridges,  and  swans;  besides  all  other  sorts  of 
game,  cheaper  than  butchers'  meat. 

At  Samoiarski-jam,  the  Irtish,  to  the  south-east,  is  bordered  by 
lofty  mountains,  crowned  with  cedars;  and  the  land  on  the  other 
side,  to  the  north-west,  is  low  and  full  of  pasture-grounds,  where  are 
great  black  bears,  wolves,  and  foxes,  both  red  and  grey :  some  of  the 
finest  grey  furs  in  all  Siberia  are  found  here.  In  the  winter,  the  snow 
is  sometimes  a  fathom  deep  *. 

The  woods  and  fields  about  Tobolsk,  are  stored  with  the  coq-bruyere, 
coq-limoge,  gelinots,  ptarmigans,  partridges,  woodcocks,  snipes;  and 
no  country  in  the  world  can  produce  such  numbers  and  variety  of 
water  fowl:  they  are  so  numerous  that  three  or  four  hundred  may  be 
caught  in  a  night,  by  placing  nets  in  the  openings  between  two  rivu- 
lets, at  a  hole  cut  through  the  coppice,  and  lighting  a  small  fire. 

There  are  lynxes,  ermines,  sables,  martins,  otters,  elks;  incredible 
numbers  of  hares,  bears,  and  deer  of  all  kinds:  the  greatest  abundance 
of  fish,  wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats,  &c.  f . 

"  I  hired  a  meadow  eight  versts  from  Tobolsk,  for  six  grosses, 
(a  gross  is  two-pence),  and,  for  that  sum  and  the  labour,  I  procur- 
ed five  hay  stacks,  each  containing  twenty-two  waggon  loads  for  two 
horses  J-." 

The  view  of  the  country  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Tobolsk  is  really 
sublime;  and,  notwithstanding  its  surrounding  but  distant  deserts,  is 
a  very  enviable  retreat  §. 

At  Tomsk,  there  are  magazines  of  rich  and  valuable  commodities, 
brought  thither  by  all  the  various  nations  inhabiting  the  heart  of  Asia, 

*  Isb.  Ides.  +  Bell  of  Antermony,  p.  191;  and  Isb.  Ides. 

t  Strahlenberg,  p.  360.  §  Captain  Cochrane,  p.  1 18. 


198 


A  TARTAR  DWELLING  DESCRIBED. 


CHAP,    and  with  whom  no  other  nations  of  Europe  have  intercourse :  thither, 
*i*~v->**~)  and  to  Tobolsk,  are  brought  the  manufactures  of  China,  Corea,  and 
all  the  nations  to  the  north,  or  north-east  of  the  river  Amoor  *. 


The  Tartars  at  Tobolsk  live  mostly  on  the  hill.  Along  the  banks 
of  the  river  are  several  large  Tartar  streets  occupied  by  the  ancient 
inhabitants.  They  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  and  the 
privileges  of  trade.  Their  houses  are  very  cleanly,  they  are  courteous 
and  honest.  January  9,  1720,  we  lodged  in  a  Tartar  hut,  (near  Tara) : 
we  warmed  ourselves  at  a  good  fire  on  the  hearth :  they  use  no  stoves 
as  the  Russians  do.  They  dress  their  victuals  in  an  iron  kettle,  and 
are  very  neat  and  cleanly  both  in  their  persons  and  houses.  The 
walls  of  the  houses  are  built  with  beams  of  wood  and  moss,  the  roofs 
are  raised.  A  square  hole  is  cut  out,  and  a  piece  of  ice  (which  is  now 
and  then  renewed)  is  formed  to  fit  the  place  exactly,  which  lets  in  a 
good  light.  In  one  end  of  the  apartment,  is  a  bench  eighteen  inches 
high  and  six  feet  broad,  covered  with  mats  or  skins  of  wild  beasts, 
upon  which  the  family  sit  by  day  and  sleep  by  night. 

The  Tartars  of  the  Baraba  are  poor  and  miserable,  and  are  obliged 
to  pay  a  tribute  of  furs  and  skins  of  wild  beasts  both  to  the  Czar  and 
to  the  Kontaysha  of  the  Calmucs,  who  both  consider  them  as  sub- 
jects. "  Considering  the  extent  of  Siberia,  and  the  many  advantages 
it  possesses,  I  am  of  opinion  that  it  is  sufficient  to  contain  all  the  na- 
tions in  Europe,  where  they  might  enjoy  a  more  comfortable  life  than 
many  of  them  do  at  present  f ." 

*  Russian  Discoveries.    Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  II.  p.  1033. 

t  Bell's  Journey  to  Pekin,  Ch.  II.  and  XIV.  with  respect  to  the  window, 
Strahlenberg  says,  p.  454 — "Windows,  throughout  all  Siberia,  are  made  of  isin- 
glass, called  in  Latin  lapis  specularis,  of  which  there  are  two  sorts :  the  white  and 
the  brown;  and  they  are  both  found  in  Russia  and  Siberia  in  great  plenty." 
(Mica  is  meant,  Isinglass-stone  was  a  name  given  to  that  substance.  The  other 
Isinglass,  ichthyocolla,  is  made  from  the  Beluga  and  Sturgeon). 


199 


CHAP. 
V. 

CONQUEST  OF  SIBERIA  BY  THE  MONGOLS. 

Genghis  Khan  gave  the  sovereignty  of  the  empire  of  Capschac  to  A.D.  1211. 
his  eldest  son,  Touschi  Khan.    This  division  was  bounded  on  the 
south  by  the  Caspian  Sea  and  the  Palus  Mseotis ;  on  the  east  by  the 
river  Irtish;  on  the  west  by  the  Don,  including  the  Crimea;  and  on 
the  north  by  Kazan  up  to  the  Arctic  Sea*. 

Baton  Khan  succeeded  his  father,  Touschi,  who  died  in  1226.  He  A.D.  1226. 
built  the  town  of  Serai  on  the  Volga,  and  made  it  his  residence. 

Batou  invaded  Russia,  and  reduced  that  country:  appointing  vice-  a.D.  1240. 
roys  every  where,  without  expelling  the  Russian  princes. 

Sheibani  Khan,  brother  of  Batou,  with  fifteen  thousand  families,  a.D.  1242. 
was  sent  to  the  north,  and  settled  at  Tiumin  on  the  river  Tura,  which 
they  named  Genghidin,  in  honour  of  the  great  conqueror.  They 
afterwards  removed  about  a  hundred  and  seventy  miles  north-east, 
and  founded  the  city  of  Isker,  or  Sibir,  sixteen  miles  from  Tobolsk, 
on  the  Irtish ;  their  boundaries  being  the  rivers  Isset  and  Tavda  f . 
Sheibani  had  possessions  also,  by  inheritance,  on  the  river  Yaik 
or  Ural,  where  Batou  founded  the  Golden  Horde:  and  vestiges  of 
Saratchick  are  still  visible  J. 

Kazan  was  built  by  a  son  of  Batou,  who  resided  there.  (The  A.D.  1257. 
khans  of  Kazan  became  independent  in  1441.)    Kasimof  on  the  Oka 

*  Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  387.    Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  II.  576. 

f  The  Tartars  gave  the  name  of  Tura  to  the  city  and  all  Siberia,  and  call  them 
so  to  this  day.  Sibir  (whence  Siberia)  is  probably  the  Russian  word  north.  See 
Strahlenberg,  p.  452. 

+  Strahlenberg,  p.  266.  Tooke,  Ch.  II.  p.  61.  Gibbon,  Ch.LXIV.  Levesque, 
Vol.  VII.  pp.  192, 195,  242.    De  Guines,  Vol.  IV.  p.  446. 


200  IMMENSE  INVASION  FROM  CHINA. 

was  the  court  residence  of  a  khan:  there  are  remains  of  a  palace, 
lofty  tower,  mausoleum,  &c.  *. 

Old  Astrachan,  Tsaritzin,  and  Bolgar,  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Kama,  shew  remains  of  large  and  magnificent  cities  f . 


CENTRAL  SIBERIA. 

Kaidu,  great  grand-son  of  Genghis,  and  nephew  of  the  Grand  Khan 
Kublai,  governed  the  countries  about  Almalegh:  he  gained  the  chiefs 
of  the  hordes  that  encamp  north-north-east  of  Turfan,  and  those  north 
of  the  Altai  mountains.  He  rebelled  against  Kublai ;  who,  being  engag- 
in  China,  gave  the  command  of  the  army  to  Chetien-tche :  many  lords 
from  the  countries  of  the  Igours,  Persia,  Arabia,  Capschac,  and  some 
Tartar  chiefs,  accompanied  him,  with  three  hundred  thousand  men, 
who  met  at  Siang-yang.  Omar,  an  Arab,  with  a  corps  of  western 
troops,  encamped  at  Tchingtou,  to  make  the  attack  from  all  sides ;  and 
Kaidu  was  defeated. 

In  1276,  Kaidu  was,  with  his  brother,  at  the  head  of  one  hundred 
thousand  troops ;  and,  having  increased  in  power,  he  maintained  his  in- 
dependence. This  king  and  his  armies,  at  all  times,  remain  in  the 
open  plains,  vallies,  and  woods,  with  which  this  region  abounds.  They 
subsist  on  flesh  and  milk,  and  his  subjects  pay  implicit  obedience  to 
their  king.  They  possess  vast  herds  of  horses,  cows,  sheep,  and  other 
domestic  animals.  In  these  districts  are  found  bears  of  a  white  colour, 
and  about  twenty  spans  in  length ;  foxes  entirely  black ;  wild  asses,  and 


*  Kasimof  on  the  Oka  was  a  populous  Tartar  town  with  mosques,  in  1685. — 
Father  Avril,  p.  128. 

t  Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  48.    Levesque,  Vol.  VII.  p.  191. 


BATTLES  ON  THE  IRTISH. 


201 


zibelins;   besides  martins,  and  swarms  of  Pharaoh's  mice.    They  CHAP, 
travel  in  sledges  without  wheels,  and  drawn  by  dogs  *. 

Kaidu  concerted  a  rebellion,  against  the  Grand  Khan  Kublai,  with  A.D.  1286. 
Nayan,  a  near  relation  of  both  parties,  to  whose  ancestor,  Belgatai, 
brother  of  Genghis,  a  considerable  district  in  Leao-tong  had  been  giv- 
en: but  Nayan  was  defeated,  and  put  to  death  by  Kublai,  before  Kai- 
du could  join  him.    (See  the  Chapter  on  Kublai). 

Kaidu  was  entirely  routed  on  the  banks  of  the  Irtish,  by  Timur  A.D.  1289. 
Kaan,  grandson  of  Kublai,  and  viceroy  of  Yunan,  Burmah,  Ban- 
galla,  &c.  but,  after  that  commander's  departure,  Kaidu  gained  over  the 
hordes  to  the  north  and  north-west  of  Caracorum. 

Kublai  died  in  1294,  and  his  grandson  Timur  Kaan  succeeded  him 
as  Grand  Khan.    In  1297,  Kaidu  was  driven  northward;  and  the  next  A.D.  1297. 
year,  a  great  victory  was  gained  over  him  near  the  river  Irtish. 

During  the  whole  reign  of  Timur  Kaan,  (he  died  in  1307),  there  A.D.  1298. 
was  scarcely  any  other  war  than  this  in  Tartary.    Kaidu  disputed  the 
empire  for  thirty  years ;  which  he  pretended  Kublai  had  usurped.  Timur 
Kaan  was  always  obliged  to  keep  numerous  armies  in  these  countries. 

Caichan,  nephew  of  the  Grand  Khan,  fought  several  bloody  battles 
with  the  rebels  between  Caracorum  and  the  river  Tamir. 

Kaidu,  after  having  lost  his  whole  army,  died  of  vexation.    Tou-oua,  A.D.  1301. 
his  brother,  was  dangerously  wounded,  and  submitted.    Thus  ended 
this  long  warf. 

*  See  Marsden's  Marco  Polo,  B.II.  Ch.I.    B.IH.  Ch.XLIV.  AndDeGuines, 
Vol.  IV.  p.  151. 

t  Marco  Polo,  and  notes,  in  B.  II.  Ch.  I.  and  B.  III.  Ch.  XLIV.  Since  the 
year  1272  the  Grand  Khan  employed  elephants  in  his  wars.  In  the  chapter  on 
Kublai,  it  is  shewn,  that  the  khan  was  in  a  castle  borne  by  four  elephants,  in  the 
action  with  Nayan:  and  that  he  possessed  thousands  of  those  animals.  During 
the  wars  with  Kaidu,  as  there  were  no  other  hostilities,  and  as  Kaidu  disputed  the 
JEmjrire,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  great  numbers  of  elephants  were  present  in 
these  wars  on  the  Irtish,  and  in  driving  Kaidu  to  the  north.  There  are,  in  the 
neigbourhood  of  Tomsk,  a  vast  number  of  rich  tombs ;  and  these  wars  of  Timur- 


DD 


202 


IMPORTANT  POSITION.— ALTAI  MOUNTAINS. 


CHAP.  [This  position  of  Kaidu's  appears  always  to  have  been  an  important 
<~y~*S  one,  as  the  head  quarters  of  the  Asiatic  Tartars. 

Justin  sent  an  embassy  to  the  Khakan  or  Emperor,  who  resided  in 
a  fine  vale  near  the  sources  of  the  Irtish*. 

The  appellative  Turks  was  borne  about  A.D.  515,  (how  much  earli- 
er is  not  known,)  only  by  that  part  of  the  nation  which  had  long  had 
its  habitation  in  the  Altai  mountains  along  the  Irtish,  where  that  peo- 
ple became  so  powerful  as  to  give  disturbance  to  China  and  Persia, 
In  the  same  century  the  state  split  into  petty  Khanates,  and  at  length 
became  a  prey  to  the  victorious  Arabs  f. 

Kaan  must  have  been  those  which  caused  many  of  them,  for  the  following  rea- 
sons: I.  Many  of  the  tombs,  being  very  rich,  and  about  four  hundred  years  old, 
when  discovered.  II.  Elephants'  bones  being  found  in  them.  III.  The  Chinese 
wishing  to  visit  them  as  those  of  their  ancestors,  (as  will  be  shown).  IV.  The  ar- 
mies having  marched  from  Yunan  and  Bangalla,  Timur  Kaan  being  governor  of 
those  provinces  before  he  was  Emperor  of  China  and  Grand  Khan  of  theMog-uIs. 

The  Siberians  attribute  the  tombs  to  the  wars  of  Genghis  Khan,  and  Timur  Bee 
(Tamerlane).  The  Monarch  of  China  was  also  named  Timur,  and  was  the  great 
great  grandson  of  Genghis.  This  appears  to  clear  up  satisfactorily  several  inter- 
esting points  in  the  history  of  Siberia,  probably  not  now  known  in  that  country, 
and  possibly  not  even  in  Russia. 

It  may  also  be  particularly  remarked,  that  Assam  was  under  Timur  Kaan's 
viceroyalty;  and  that  it  is  the  custom  of  the  Assamese  to  bury  an  elephant  with 
the  corpse  of  a  great  man  . 

Mangalu,  uncle  of  Timur  Kaan,  was  at  this  time  viceroy  of  Shen-si,  residing  at 
Singan,  the  capital,  and  the  city  where  army  equipments  are  made.  Singan  was 
the  capital  of  China  when  the  Emperor  was  the  ally  of  Afrasiab,  against  the  Per- 
sian Roostum,  and  was  captured.     See  Chapter  III. 

The  description,  character,  and  customs,  of  these  invaders  of  Siberia,  from  the 
earliest  times,  to  the  thirty  years  war  under  Kublai  and  Timur  Kaan,  correspond 
so  truly  with  the  tombs,  and  their  contents,  as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  their  origin. 

These  Indian  countries  have  probably  supplied  the  buffaloes,  fossil  remains 
of  which  have  been  found  in  several  places  in  Siberia,  as  those  animals  are  used 
by  the  Chinese  to  draw  carts.    See  Van  Braam's  Embassy,  Journal,  March  25, 1795. 

*  Sir  Win.  Jones,  Vol.  I.  p.  63,  Discourse  V.  See  also  au  embassy  from  the 
Roman  Emperor  at  Constantinople  to  this  same  place,  in  Ch.  III.  of  this  Vol. 

f  Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  37.   "  In  the  year  1720,  when  some  Russian  regiments  went 


AFRASIAB.— EMPEROR  OF  CHINA.— OGUS  KHAN. 


The  country  of  the  Getes,  and  Turquestan,  was  included  in  Touschi's  CHAP, 
sovereignity  of  Capschac*. 

Algu,  grandson  of  Zagatai,  had  for  his  share  all  the  country  lying 
between  the  Altai  mountains  and  the  river  Amu,  (Oxus)f. 

It  is  the  supposed  country  of  Afrasiab,  who,  with  his  ally  the  Em- 
peror of  China,  who  fought  upon  a  white  elephant,  were  beaten  by  the 
Persian  hero,  Roostum.  The  Emperor  of  China  was  made  prisoner, 
and  the  territories  were  divided  by  Roostum  among  the  Persian 
leaders  J. 

It  appears  certain  that  this  was  part  of  the  country  of  Ogus  Khan : 
a  name  as  famous  in  the  east,  as  that  of  Alexander  or  Caesar  in  the 
west :  he  conquered  Kitai,  Cashmere,  and  many  other  countries.  He 
lived  above  a  hundred  years  §. 

from  the  city  of  Tobolsk,  up  the  river  Irtish,  they  found  there  many  antiquities, 
and  temples  of  idols.  The  Tobolskian  Tartars  and  Russians  say,  that  from  this 
river,  farther  towards  the  west,  south,  and  south-west  from  the  city  of  Tobolsk,  be- 
tween the  sources  of  the  rivers  Tobol  and  Ischim ;  parts  which  few  people  fre- 
quented, there  were  to  be  found  g  reat  numbers  of  images,  cut  in  stone,  of  men  and 
beasts:  and  that  the  ruins  of  several  cities  were  discernible  in  those  deserts. 

The  mountains  of  Ulug-tau  and  Kitzig-tau,  also  called  Arr-tag  and  Kar-tag,  lie 
between  the  said  rivers;  on  the  first  of  which,  Tamerlane,  when  there  with  his  ar- 
my, erected  obelisks:  and  near  which  place  the  great  Ogus  Khan  had  his  resi- 
dence."   Vide  Strahlenberg,  p.  4. 

*  De  la  Croix,  p.  387.  f  Abul  Ghazi,  p.  1G3. 

$  Sir  John  Malcolm's  History  of  Persia,  Vol.  I.  pp.  46  and  124. 

§  Strahlenberg,  pp.  4,  and  136  to  141.  "  About  six  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
years  before  Christ,  (this  was  the  supposed  epoch  of  Ogus),  says  Du  Halde,  a 
prince  of  Shen-si  revolted  ;  but  the  Emperor  Syang-Vang  soon  defeated  him,  by 
the  help  of  an  army  of  Tartars,  whom  he  had  brought  over  to  his  interest  by  mar- 
rying the  daughter  of  their  chief. 

Tsi,  the  king'  of  Shen-si,  died ;  and  the  Emperor,  freed  from  his  fears,  divor- 
ced his  Tartar  spouse,  under  pretence  that  she  was  a  stranger,  whom  he  had  mar- 
ried for  political  reasons.  The  chief  of  the  Tartars  resolved  on  revenge.  Sho- 
tay,  the  Emperor's  son,  was  a  discontented  prince.  The  Tartar  promised  to  make 
him  Emperor,  if  he  would  join  him;  which  he  did.    They  marched  to  the  capital, 

DD  2 


204  TAMERLANE  INVADES  SIBERIA. 

CHAP.  The  Altai,  or  golden  mountains,  are  said  to  be  so  called  from  their 
v—*>-v—w'  containing  gold  mines,  and  having,  in  the  neighbouring  plains,  the 
finest  pastures  in  the  world.  In  the  year  1719,  the  Kontaish  of  the 
Calmucs  could  bring  into  the  field  a  hundred  thousand  excellent  ca- 
valry. The  Calmucs  live  always  in  tents,  as  anciently:  and  had  re- 
cently beaten  an  invading  army  of  three  hundred  thousand  Chinese. 
Bell  of  Antermony)/] 
A.D.  1389.  We  now  return  to  the  more  immediate  object  of  these  notes.  From 
1359  to  1389,  the  King  of  the  Getes*  had  been  invading  the  empire 
of  Zagatai:  and  Tamerlane  had  invaded  his  country  five  or  six 
times.  In  the  latter  year,  Tocatmich,  or  Toctamich,  Khan  of  Caps- 
chac,  descended  from  Touschi,  eldest  son  of  Genghis f,  having  insulted 
Timur,  it  was  necessary  to  revenge  the  indignity;  but  Timur  dared  not 
leave  so  powerful  a  prince  in  the  north,  during  the  absence  of  his  army. 
He  therefore  resolved  in  person  to  invade  Mogolistan,  the  country  of 
Prince  Ancatoura,  and  of  Kezer  Coja  Aglen,  descended  from  Zagatai, 
Emperor  of  the  Moguls  and  King  of  Gete  %. 

Timur,  with  his  army  and  the  troops  of  his  household,  departed  from 
Alcouchoun,  in  Capschac,  and  passed  by  Bouri  Bachi,  thence  to  To- 
palic  Carac,  and  ascended  the  mountain  Ournac,  or  Ournac  Lornac§. 

the  Emperor  fled,  and  Sho-tay  was  proclaimed.  The  Emperor  having-  implored, 
and  received  succour,  besieged  the  Metropolis,  which  surrendered.  His  son  was 
put  to  death,  and  the  Tartars  were  vanquished."    Du  Halde,  Vol.  I.  p.  168. 

*  What  is  now  called  Siberia,  and  the  Calmuc  country,  are  named  Gete,  or  Ge- 
ta,  and  Mogolistan,  in  Timur  Bee's  wars. 

t  See  Chapter  IV. 

%  Sherefeddin,  Vol.1,  p.  325.  Kezer  was  grandson  to  Togluc  Timur:  see  Abul 
Ghazi,  Vol.  II.  p. 531 ;  and  Togluc  was  twenty-fifth  successor  to  Zagatai:  see  She- 
refeddin, Vol.  I.  p.  18,  note  4.  The  capitals  of  these  sovereigns  were  Sibir,  near 
Tobolsk;  and  Tontoura,  near  Tomsk.  See  Strahlenberg,  p.  266.  Levesque, 
Vol.  VII.  p.  195. 

§  A  note  says,  this  was  the  residence  of  Ogus. 


DEFEAT  OF  THE  PRINCE  OF  SIBIR. 

He  regulated  his  cavalry  at  the  rate  of  two  horses  to  each  man.  He 
reached  Aiker  Souri,  at  the  foot  of  Ournac.  They  were  obliged  to  dig 
wells  for  two  or  three  days:  but  God  provided  for  so  great  a  multi- 
tude; for.  though  it  was  the  midst  of  summer,  there  was  in  the  desert 
an  extensive  meadow  covered  with  ice  and  snow;  wherewith  all  the 
army,  the  horses,  and  cattle,  quenched  their  thirst.  Giving  thanks  to 
God,  they  departed*,  and  encamped  at  Togrul  Otlac,  traversed  the 
whole  plain,  and  caught  some  wild  asses :  they  kept  only  the  fattest. 
At  length  the  army  arrived  at  the  plain  of  Oulanyarlic,  and  encamped. 
Here  they  perceived  a  thousand  horse  belonging  to  Ancatoura:  they 
were  vigorously  attacked,  and  fled.  One  man  was  seized.  From  the 
information  gained,  Timur  marched  with  all  expedition  till  he  arrived 
at  Aiokuz,  and  encamped.  In  a  council  with  his  sons,  the  generals, 
princes,  and  lords,  it  was  resolved  to  divide  the  army  and  seek  the 
enemy  by  two  different  routes.  Mirza  Omar  Cheik  was  sent  one  way  t 
and  Timur  took  the  road  to  Coui  Meragh,  a  famous  well,  and  other 
places,  and  came  to  Caragoutchour,  a  temple  of  the  Moguls.  In  the 
mean  time  Mirza  Omar  Cheik  exterminated  all  he  met  with,  and  at 
last  came  up  with  Ancatoura  at  Coubrac.  A  vigorous  battle  ensued, 
Ancatoura  was  defeated,  and  fled:  all  his  beautiful  daughters  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  conqueror;  also  great  numbers  of  cattle,  and  much 
spoil. 

The  illustrious  mirza  joined  his  father,  Timur,  at  Actadictor.  Omar 
was  sent  on  another  expedition,  and  acquitted  himself  heroically. — 
The  whole  army  now  encamped  at  Caragoutchour;  and  the  booty  was 
divided  among  the  officers  and  soldiers.  Timur  staid  at  this  place 
long  enough  to  fatten  his  horses.    He  sent  two  commanders,  with 

*  Sherefeddin,  Vol  1.  p.  326.  The  desert  which  Timur  passed  over,  was  pro- 
bably the  Steppe  of  Issim. 


206 


WAR  ON  THE  BANKS  OF  THE  IRTISH. 


CHAP,  thirty  thousand  horse  towards  Artish,  or  Irtish,  in  lat.  56°  40',  in 
■■^-yW  search  of  the  enemy.  They  marched  day  and  night.  Arriving  at  the 
river  Irtish,  which  runs  through  all  the  country  of  the  Getes  and  Mo- 
golistan,  into  the  Oby,  half  the  army  marched  along  the  banks,  others 
entered  the  isles.  They  slew  numbers,  and  returned  to  the  royal  camp 
with  the  prisoners  and  the  spoil. 


Timur  having  destroyed  those  who  opposed  him,  sent  the  captives 
in  chains,  and  the  spoil,  to  Samarcand.  He  then  passed  the  great  de- 
sert*, and  arrived  at  Aimal  Goujou;  and  lodged  in  the  palace  of 
Serai  Ourdam,  with  a  pompous  retinue,  and  the  greatest  magni- 
ficence. 

Timur  held  a  council  with  the  princes  and  lords  of  the  empire;  and 
resolved  that  the  army  should  be  divided  into  several  bodies;  to  sur- 
round the  Getes  in  their  usual  dwelling  places,  and  to  pursue  those 
who  had  retired  to  Mogolistan.  The  officers  wrote  memoirs  of  the 
roads  and  different  passages  of  all  these  quarters;  and  copies  were 
delivered  to  the  different  princes  and  generals ;  and  a  guide  for  each 
army.  The  country  of  Yulduz  was  ordered  to  be  the  rendezvous  of 
all  the  commanders. 

Mirza  Omar  Cheik  led  the  troops  of  Andecan.  He  made  inroads 
to  the  right  and  left  of  the  march  marked  out  for  him;  put  all  his 
enemies  to  the  sword,  and  pillaged  every  thing  in  his  way.  He  crossed 
the  mountain  Doubechin  Andour,  and  arrived  at  Cara  Coja,  three 
months'  journey,  by  the  caravan,  from  Samarcand. 

Another  body  of  thirty  thousand  cavalry,  well  equipped,  under  the 
Emir  Gehanca,  marched  to  Cara  Art,  and  Chourougluc,  in  Mogolistan, 
slaying  and  plundering  all  the  Getes  they  met. 


*  This  was  the  Barabintzian  desert. 


TAMERLANE'S  TROOPS  DEFEATED. 


207 


Osman  Abbas,  with  twenty  thousand,  passed  by  Saghizgan  and  Ge-  CHAP, 
veyar,  treating  the  inhabitants  in  the  same  manner.  v^-v*-*. 

Codadad  Husseini,  with  twenty  thousand,  arrived  at  Bicout,  where 
they  met  the  hords  of  Boulgagi  and  Ilker.  The  battle  was  bloody, 
and  lasted  twenty-four  hours:  at  length,  sword  in  hand,  Timur's 
troops  were  victorious. 

Timur  himself  began  his  march  with  his  guards  and  household 
troops:  he  took  the  road  of  Oluc  Coul;  he  met  the  Boulgagis  who 
had  escaped  from  the  battle;  they  were  put  to  the  sword,  at  the  first 
onset. 

The  Emperor  had  left  many  emirs  and  troops  in  western  Turquestan, 
between  Gete  and  Capschac,  whom  he  ordered  to  invade  the  country 
of  the  Moguls,  and  to  destroy  the  Getes.  They  obeyed.  After  many 
marches,  they  came  to  Molzoredon,  where  they  met  the  King  of  Mo- 
golistan*,  Keser  Coja  Aglen,  at  the  head  of  a  great  army.  . 

The  Emirs  judged  it  improper  to  attack  him  on  horseback,  but  they 
dismounted,  and  tied  their  horses'  bridles  to  their  belts.  There  was 
fighting  for  forty-eight  hours ;  which  ended  in  a  treaty  with  Kezer 
Coja  Aglen;  and  the  emirs  returned  to  the  rendezvous  at  Yulduz. 
Chah  Melic  Turcan  thought  it  advisable  to  fly,  and  join  Timur  at  Kei- 
tou,  near  the  Irtish.  He  gave  the  Emperor  an  account  of  the  battle, 
and  every  thing  remarkable  in  it  f .  Upon  this  news,  Timur  marched, 
joined  the  toman  of  Sultan  Mahmoud  Khan,  and,  with  expedition,  ar- 
rived at  Yulduz ;  where  the  emirs  who  had  made  the  peace,  kissed 
the  royal  carpet.  His  Majesty  chose  the  bravest  of  his  army;  and, 
leaving  all  his  attendants,  followed  the  track  of  the  king,  passed  the  great 
desert,  and  arriving  at  Tabertach,  (a  village  dependant  on  Caracorum), 


*  The  fugitive  Mongols  from  China,  in  1369,  appear  to  have  joined  the  Mon- 
gol khans  of  Gete.    Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  II.  p.  507. 

f  This  lame  account  means,  no  doubt,  that  Timur's  troops  were  well  beaten. 


208 


TIMUR  PURSUES  THE  KING,  WHO  FLEES. 


CHAP,  then  at  Couchon  Cai,  where  he  found  the  enemy's  array,  he  passed  the 
v^^-*^  night  there.  During  the  darkness,  the  enemy  fied  towards  the  desert  and 
distant  places ;  every  regiment  taking  a  different  road,  and  flinging  away 
their  ensigns,  which  were  black.  Many  of  them  fell  in  the  way  of  Mirza 
Omar  Cheik,  Ali  Behadur,  and  the  Emir  Gehanca;  and  were  slain. 

Timur  having  passed  the  mountain  Naizin  Keutel,  pursued  the  ene- 
my to  Caratach.  The  king  had  suffered  great  fatigues,  seen  his  war- 
riors, his  wives,  and  children,  slain  or  taken  prisoners,  and  his  country 
ruined;  he  therefore  abandoned  it,  to  save  his  life. 

The  soldiers  made  abundance  of  both  sexes  slaves ;  and  the  booty 
was  great  in  horses,  camels,  sheep,  and  other  beasts,  &c.  Timur,  on 
his  march  back,  at  Jalich,  divided  the  immense  spoils;  and  then  con- 
tinued his  route  to  Yulduz.  The  emirs  all  returned  to  the  same  place, 
laden  with  booty,  and  with  an  infinite  number  of  captives.  Yulduz 
is  a  place  of  delights  and  pleasure.  The  grass  in  the  meadows  is  so 
nourishing,  that  the  leanest  horses,  when  they  have  been  there  a  week, 
become  fat  and  strong.  Poets  have  sung  its  praise ;  the  beauty  of  its 
fountains  is  the  reason  of  its  name,  for  Yulduz  means  the  morning 
star.  The  Emperor  had  marched  above  a  thousand  leagues;  and 
now  resolved  to  return  to  Samarcand,  being  contented  with  his 
victories*. 

A.D.  1390.  n8xt  year  Timur  was  necessitated  to  send  an  army  into  the  coun- 


try of  the  Getes.  Four  emirs,  with  twenty  thousand  horse,  were  joined 
by  five  thousand  more,  under  Mirza  Omar  Cheik.  They  marched  by 
Arjatou,  and  arrived  at  Caratal,  where  they  learned  that  a  guard  of  four 
hundred  men,  sent  forward  to  gain  intelligence,  had  been  nearly  all  killed 
by  Caraereddin.  They  came  to  the  field  of  the  slain,  and  found  a  man  of 
the  horde  Malangou  yet  alive,  though  he  had  eaten  nothing  but  herbs 


*  Sherefeddin,  Vol.  I.  pp.  324  to  338. 


SIBERIA  AGAIN  INVADED.— RETREAT. 


209 


for  forty  days.  He  assured  them  that  Camereddin  had  marched  towards  CHAP. 
Itchna  Boutchna.  They  pursued  that  route  and  arrived  at  Keptadgi, 
where  they  left  their  baggage,  and  pushed  on.  When  they  arrived  at 
the  Irtish  they  found  that  Camereddin  had  crossed  it,  and  gone  to- 
wards Taoulas  (in  latitude  60°)  into  the  woods  where  sables  and 
ermines  are  said  to  be  found.  They  saw  the  rafts  and  boats  the 
enemy  had  built  to  cross  the  water.  The  emirs  stayed  some  time  at 
this  place,  and  crossed  the  river  to  engrave  their  arms  and  red  char- 
acters *  with  fire  on  the  pine  trees  of  these  woods,  as  an  assurance 
to  future  ages  of  their  conquests  beyond  the  river  Irtish.  Having 
been  six  months  in  these  deserts,  and  living  on  hunting  and  wild  roots, 
and  the  air  becoming  extremely  cold,  they  returned  by  the  banks  of 
the  great  lake  Etrach  Gheul,  and  arrived  at  Samarcand  f . 

The  writer  will  now  endeavour  to  show  that  the  Mongols  pos- 
sessed equal  sovereignty  over  EASTERN  SIBERIA,  which  was  a 
branch  of  the  Grand  Khan's  division.  The  north-east  parts  of  Sibe- 
ria are  named,  in  the  map  to  Petis  de  la  Croix's  Life  of  Timur,  North- 
ern Turquestan. 

"  Upon  leaving  Caracorum  and  the  Altai  mountains,  you  proceed, 
in  a  nothern  direction,  through  the  plain  of  Bargu,  (by  Baikal  Sea,) 
sixty  days  journey.  The  people  live  on  the  flesh  of  stags,  and  make 
use  of  them  for  the  purpose  of  travelling:  this  plain  borders  on  the 
ocean  at  its  northren  extremity,  and  the  people  are  subjects  of  the 
Grand  Khan.  They  have  neither  corn  nor  wine,  the  cold  is  excessive. 
Upon  travelling  forty  days  it  is  said  you  reach  the  northern  ocean. 
Near  to  this  is  a  mountain  where  vultures  and  peregrine  falcons  breed : 

*  These  arras  and  inscriptions  are  burnt  upon  the  trees,  or  cut  in  the  rocks, 
and  are  filled  with  red  colour.    See  Strahlenberg,  p.  346. 

f  Sherefeddin,  Vol.  T.  pp.344  to  347.  This  fruitless  expedition  was,  no  doubt, 
against  the  prince  reigning  at  Sibir.  The  names  differ  so  entirely  from  the  mo- 
dern geography,  that  it  is  impossible  to  trace  Timur's  marches,  with  any  accuracy. 


E  E 


210 


ISLAND  IN  THE  ARCTIC  SEA. — FALCONS. 


CHAP,    neither  men  nor  cattle  are  found  there ;  and  of  birds  only  the  bargelak 
v^^Y^^  and  the  falcons  to  which  they  serve  for  food.    When  the  Grand 
Khan  is  desirous  to  have  peregrine  falcons,  he  procures  them  at  this 
place. 

There  is  also  an  island  off  the  coast,  where  ger-falcons  breed,  and 
are  found  in  such  numbers  that  his  majesty  may  be  supplied  with  as 
many  of  them  as  he  pleases  *."  (See  the  Chapter  on  Kublai  for  the  vast 
number  of  these  birds  he  possessed). 

"  Jouini,  or  Aladdin  Atamulc,  who  died  in  1284,  composed  his 
history  in  1260.  He  observes,  that  Genghis  Khan's  territories  lay 
much  to  the  north  and  east  of  the  desert  side  of  Tartary:  and  was  of 
so  great  extent,  that  the  true  country  of  the  Moguls  was  eight  months 
journey.  That  the  several  sorts  of  people  that  inhabit  it,  were  divid- 
ed into  tribes,  called  Moguls :  and  that  among  all  these  tribes  there 
was  but  one  that  was  civilized,  which  was  that  called  Niron  Caiat,  of 
which  Genghis  became  sovereign  by  the  death  of  his  father  Pisoucaf ." 
A.D.  1245.  *  *  *  "In  the  same  country  with  Burin  and  Cadou,  grandsons  of 
Genghis,  (says  Carpini)  Shiebani,  the  brother  of  Batou,  remaineth  (at 
Sibir).  We  were  travelling  through  it  from  the  feast  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, till  eight  days  before  the  feast  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  (i.  e.  by 
the  Roman  calendar,  near  three  months) ;  when  we  entered  the  coun- 
try of  the  black  Cathayans %,  where  the  Emperor  had  built  a  house; 

*  Marco  Polo,  p.  220,  and  the  notes;  where  it  will  be  seen  that  Polo  had  re- 
ceived very  accurate  accounts  of  the  country,  for  his  text  implies  that  the  people 
rode  upon  the  reindeer,  which  is  proved  to  be  true  by  Mr.  Adams;  who  found 
ruins  of  ancient  forts,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Lena,  and  also  mutilated  remains,  "  de 
figures  grotesques."  See  the  Chap,  on  the  Lena  Elephant.  It  is  only  in  summer  that 
people  visit  those  excessively  cold  parts.  For  a  description  of  them  see  Chap.  VI. 

t  P.  de  la  Croix,  p.  427. 

%  That  is,  Cara  Cathay,  or  Black  Cathay:  so  named  from  the  colour  of  the  rich 
soil,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  desert.  Cara  Cathay,  on  De  PIsle's  map  to  the  Life 
of  Genghis  Khan,  is  from  north  Lat.  50°  to  55°  north-east  of  Caracorum. 


SUMPTUOUS  COURT  OF  KEYUC  OR  CUYNE,  211 

his  deputy  ordered  some  drink  for  us,  and  a  dance  by  his  two  sons.  CHAP. 
Departing  hence,  we  found  a  small  sea,  very  stormy;  along  its  shores 
we  travelled  many  days ;  there  are  many  islands  in  it;  and  we  passed, 
leaving  it  on  our  left  hand  *. 

In  this  land  dwelleth  Ordu,  the  most  ancient  of  the  Tartarian  dukes. 
It  is  the  orda,  or  court  of  his  father,  which  he  inhabiteth :  and  one  of 
his  wives  beareth  rule  there  f;  for  it  is  a  custom  not  to  dissolve 
the  courts  of  princes,  but  to  appoint  women,  on  whom  gifts  are  be- 
stowed as  on  their  lords.  And  so  we  arrived  at  the  first  court  of  the 
Emperor:  we  could  not  enter  the  orda,  not  having  seen  the  Em- 
peror. 

Departing,  we  entered  the  land  of  the  Naimans,  full  of  mountains, 
and  very  cold.  Then  we  came  into  Mongolia,  and  in  some  weeks,  ar- 
rived at  the  court  of  Cuyne  J.  We  sent  him  the  pope's  letter,  and  the 
message  from  Batou. 

After  five  days,  we  were  sent  to  the  Emperor's  mother,  under  whom 
there  was  maintained  a  very  solemn  and  royal  court,  in  a  fine  white 
tent,  large  enough  for  two  thousand  persons.  All  the  dukes  were  as- 
sembled, riding  about  the  hills  and  dales  with  their  trains.  The  first 
day  they  were  clad  in  white;  the  second,  in  scarlet  robes.  This 
day  Cuyne  entered  the  tent.  The  third  day  the  dresses  were  blue ;  and 
the  fourth  rich  Balderkin  cloth  §.  There  were  many  that  had  pure  gold 
on  their  trappings,  worth  twenty  marks.  The  dukes  communed 
about  the  election  of  Cuyne, 

*  Lake  Baikal. 

f  In  the  chapter  on  Genghis  it  is  shown  that  he  was  born  in  this  neighbourhood ; 
and  also  his  empress  Purta  Cougine,  the  mother  of  the  four  great  monarchs  who 
succeeded  to  his  vast  conquests.    They  were  therefore  complete  Siberians. 

X  Cuyne  (Keyuc  is  the  proper  name,  it  is  probably  a  misprint)  had  removed 
the  court  from  Caracorum  to  Oloughyurt  in  1245.    Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  389. 

§  Cloth  of  gold. 

EE2 


SPLENDID  CORONATION  OF  THE  GRAND  KHAN. 

Without  the  door  stood  Duke  Yeroslaus  of  Suzdal  in  Russia;  and 
a  great  many  dukes  of  Cathay,  and  of  the  Solangi,  two  sons  of  the 
king  of  Georgia,  ten  Saracen  Soldans,  and  an  envoy  from  the  Calif  of  Bag- 
dat.  We  were  told,  there  were  more  than  four  thousand  ambassadors 
and  deputies  from  such  as  paid  tribute  and  presented  gifts.  We  rode 
four  leagues,  and  arrived  at  a  place  called  the  Golden  Orda.  There 
was  a  tent  covered  with  balderkin  cloth,  and  supported  by  pillars 
plated  with  gold,  fastened  on  with  golden  nails.  Here  Cuyne  was 
placed  upon  the  imperial  throne.  He  was  son  of  Octai,  forty-four 
years  old,  of  middle  stature,  wise,  politic,  and  passing  serious.  He 
erected  the  flag  of  defiance  against  the  Roman  Empire,  meaning  to 
subdue  the  whole  world.  On  his  seal  is,  "  God  in  Heaven.  Cuyne 
Khan  upon  earth — the  power  of  God  *,  The  seal  of  the  Emperor  of 
all  men."  The  gifts  presented  were  infinite,  robes  of  purple,  horses, 
mules,  &c.  Five  hundred  carts  full  of  gold,  silver,  and  silk  garments, 
were  divided  between  the  Emperor  and  his  dukes,  A  canopy,  set 
full  of  precious  stones,  was  carried  over  the  Emperor's  head.  *.,*;* 

The  Emperor's  concubine,  and  many  of  her  confederates,  were  ex- 
ecuted, for  having  poisoned  Octai.  At  the  same  time,  the  Russian 
duke  Yeroslaus  deceased.  He  had  been  invited  by  the  Emperor's  mo- 
ther to  a  feast,  and,  after  the  banquet,  returning  to  his  lodging,  fell 
sick,  and  died  in  seven  days.  After  his  death,  his  body  was  of  a  strange 
blue  colour;  and  it  was  commonly  reported  that  the  duke  was  poison- 
ed, that  the  Tartars  might  wholly  possess  his  dukedom  f. 

We  had  audience  of  the  Emperor,  and  received  his  letter  for  the 

*  At  this  very  period,  the  popes  were  industrious  in  inculcating  the  maxim,  that 
the  bishop  of  Rome  is  the  supreme  lord  of  the  universe,  and  that  princes  have  no 
lawful  power,  that  is  not  derived  from  him.  Carpini  was,  no  doubt,  careful  not 
to  communicate  these  interesting  pretensions  to  Cuyne. 

f  Jarislafll.  "  C'est  oublier  que  le  poison  est  Farme  du  faible;  et  que  les 
Tartares  n'en  avoient  pas  besoin."    Levesque,  Vol.  II.  p.  106. 


HORSES  AND  CATTLE  NOT  HOUSED  IN  WINTER. 

pope,  in  the  Tartar  and  Latin  languages,  carefully  translated,  by  us. 
We  travelled  all  winter  long,  through  deserts  of  snow,  and  arrived  at 
Kiev  in  Russia  *. 

The  Yakutes  of  the  Angara,  and  of  the  Syane  mountains,  were  per- 
secuted by  the  Buriats  and  Mongols ;  and  moved  to  their  present  rude 
and  inclement  districts,  where  they  are  found  on  both  sides  of  the  Le- 
na, to  the  Frozen  Ocean  f. 

The  present  inhabitants  of  Yakutsk  (the  city)  are  supposed  to  be 
the  descendants  of  the  invading  Mongols.  One  of  the  chiefs  had  a 
stud  of  two  thousand  horses,  in  very  good  condition,  when  M.  Les- 
seps  was  there,  though  he  had  lost  a  considerable  number  by  Commo- 
dore Billings's  expedition.  They  pretend  to  ride  better  than  any  other 
nation  in  the  world  J. 

The  Yakutes  consist  of  Mongols,  Tartars,  and  Mantchews :  they  are 
spread  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  Siberia  upon  the  coasts  of  the  gulf 
of  Pinjinsk  and  on  the  shores  of  the  Kovima;  "  on  voit  en  eux  I'homie- 
tete  que  peut  donner  la  nature."  They  hunt  in  most  places:  on  the 
borders  of  the  Lena  and  Indigerska  they  are  occupied  with  their  fish- 
eries. In  the  south  they  have  many  horned  cattle  and  horses.  Those 
years,  when  the  snow  is  excessive,  are  ruinous  to  the  cattle  and  their 
owners :  for  horses,  reindeer,  and  horned  cattle,  all  seek  their  own 
nourishment  under  the  snow,  receiving  no  aid  from  their  masters  §." 

The  Buriat  Chief  (near  Lake  Baikal)  gave  me  a  passport  in  the 
Mongolian  dialect:  his  mother  had  three  thousand  horned  cattle,  ten 
thousand  horses,  and  forty  thousand  sheep  ||. 

*  Friar  John  Du  Piano  Carpini.    Hakluyt,  Vol.  I.  pp.  66  to  71. 
f  Tooke,  Vol.11,  p.  80.  %  Note  in  Marsden's  Marco  Polo,  p.  747. 

§  Levesque,  Vol.  VII.  p.  439.    It  appears  that  they  might  always  procure  hay, 
if  provident.    Near  Olekma  there  are  plenty  of  grass  meadows. 
||  Capt.  Cochrane,  p.  476. 


214  RUINS  OF  MONGOL  CITIES.— TOMBS. 

CHAP.       The  Russian  Mongols  inhabit  the  regions  about  the  Selenga,  be- 
v^-v^w1  tween  the  50th  and  53rd  degrees  of  north  latitude,  and  the  122nd  to 
the  125th  longitude*. 

Para  Hotun,  on  the  Kerlon,  was  built  by  the  Mongols  when  they 
took  to  the  Chinese  customs,  under  Mangu  and  Kublai ;  it  was  of  a 
square  figure,  and  two  leagues  in  circumference.  The  foundations 
are  still  to  be  seen  (1710),  with  some  large  pieces  of  the  wall,  and  two 
pyramids  in  ruins.  There  are  ruins  of  their  cities  in  twenty  places. 
We  met  with  but  one  inscription,  near  Holustay,  in  the  highest  of 
some  marble  blocks,  in  the  Chinese  character:  it  imported,  that  the 
Chinese  army,  under  the  Emperor  Yong-lo,  (who  commenced  his  reign 
A.D.  1403),  arrived  there  the  14th  of  May.  Hence  it  appears  that 
he  did  not  pursue  the  Moguls  beyond  the  Kerlon.  He  was  thrice  in 
quest  of  them,  and  pushed  them  to  lat.  50°  f. 

When  Siberia  was  conquered  by  the  Russians,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  the  Moguls  were  still  a  free  and  numerous 
people,  governed  by  their  own  khans ;  under  whose  sovereignty  were 
several  Siberian  nations  J. 


MONGOL  TOMBS,  AND  ANTIQUITIES  IN  SIBERIA. 

In  Siberia,  the  southern  frontier  mountains,  from  the  Tobol  to  the 
Jenesai,  and  the  steppes  in  the  middle  regions  of  the  Lena,  have  been 
inhabited  by  the  Mongol  Tartars:  and  particularly  in  the  govern- 
ments of  Ufa,  Kazan,  and  Tobolsk.    Frequent  memorials  are  found 

*  Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  25.  Mr.  Tooke's  longitude  is  from  Ferrol;  which  agrees 
with  other  histories. 

t  Du  Halde.  Description  of  Tartary,  Vol.  II.  p.  251. 
%  Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  23. 


DIADEMS,  COINS,  &c.  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


215 


there,  of  their  ancient  grandeur,  magnificence,  and  culture;  of  which  CHAP, 
some  are  of  an  antiquity  demonstrably  of  above  a  thousand  years.        ^  V4* 

It  is  no  rare  thing  to  come  suddenly  upon  the  ruins  of  some  town, 
which,  in  its  crumbling  remains,  plainly  evinces  the  progress  which 
the  arts  had  made,  among  a  people  whom  we  are  wont  to  consider  as 
barbarians.  Still  more  frequently  are  seen  sepulchres,  which,  by  their 
inscriptions,  throw  light  on  the  history  of  this  nation ;  and,  in  the  ves- 
sels and  implements  preserved  in  them,  supply  us  with  interesting 
proofs  of  its  opulence,  its  taste,  and  its  industry. 

In  the  museum  at  St.  Petersburg,  are  preserved  a  multitude  of  ves- 
sels, diadems,  weapons,  military  trophies,  ornaments  of  dress,  coins,  &c. 
which  have  been  found  in  the  Tartarian  tombs,  in  Siberia,  and  on  the 
Volga.  They  are  of  gold,  silver,  and  copper.  The  greatest  antiquity 
of  the  tombs  is  one  thousand  one  hundred  years,  the  latest  four 
hundred*. 

The  surprising  quantity  of  golden  ornaments  found  in  the  tombs  of 
Siberia,  were  they  not  evident  to  the  sight,  would  exceed  all  belief. 

The  richest  of  the  tombs,  says  Muller,  were  made  in  the  time  of 
Genghis  Khan  and  his  immediate  successors ;  the  most  valuable  being 
found  on  the  banks  of  the  Volga,  Tobol,  and  Irtish.  The  next  in  va- 
lue are  in  the  deserts  of  Jenesai,  and  the  poorest  near  Lake  Baikal. 
He  supposes  them  all  to  be  the  work  of  the  Mongol  hordes  f . 

*  Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  48.  This  remark  refers  to  the  period  of  the  discovery  of 
these  tombs  in  the  seventeenth  century.  As  the  Turks,  who  had  elephants,  and 
who  in  the  sixth  century  resided  at  the  Altai  mountains,  and  conquered  up  to  the 
Arctic  Sea,  (Gibbon.  Ch.  XLII.  Purchas,  I.  397),  and,  as  the  rebellion  against 
Kublai  and  Timur  Kaan  took  place  at  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century,  and  Ta- 
merlane's principal  invasion  was  in  1389,  the  different  epochs  correspond  so  ac- 
curately as  to  leave  no  doubt  as  to  the  origin  of  these  curious  sepulchres. 

t  Cox's  Travels,  Vol.  III.  p.  179.  The  reason  of  the  poorest  being-  at  Baikal 
is,  that  the  Grand  Khans  and  their  families  were  buried  near  the  Chinese  wall. 
See  map,  flag  7. 


216  GOLD  CHESS-BOARDS  AND  MEN.— NUMEROUS  IDOLS  OF  GOLD. 

CHAP.  In  the  tombs  of  Siberia,  and  the  deserts  which  border  it  southward, 
w-v^*-^   are  found  thousands  of  cast  idols  of  gold,  silver,  copper,  tin,  and  brass. 

I  have  seen,  s  ays  Strahlenberg,  some,  of  the  finest  gold,  three  inches 
long,  in  the  form  of  minotaurs,  harts,  old  men,  and  other  figures ;  all 
sorts  of  urns,  trinkets,  scimitars,  medals  of  gold  and  silver,  chess-boards 
and  chess-men  of  gold;  large  golden  plates,  upon  which  the  dead  bodies 
have  been  laid,  (not  unlike  the  Bractei  aurei),  and  clothes  folded  up, 
such  as  the  corpse  is  dressed  in. 

Some  of  the  tombs  are  of  earth,  and  raised  as  high  as  houses,  and  in 
such  numbers,  upon  the  plain,  that,  at  a  distance,  they  appear  like  a 
ridge  of  hills ;  some  are  partly  of  rough  hewn  stones  or  of  free  stone,  ob- 
long and  triangular ;  others  of  them  are  built  entirely  of  stone.  Col- 
onel Kanifer  told  me  that  the  ambassadors  of  the  Chinese  Tartars,  when 
passing  the  city  of  Jenesai,  asked  permission  to  visit  the  tombs  of 
their  ancestors,  but  were  refused ;  not  improbably,  because  they  would 
have  seen  that  they  were  rifled  and  demolished. 

Golden  medals  have  been  dug  out  of  a  tomb  not  far  from  the  Irtish, 
between  the  salt  lake  Jamischewa  and  the  city  of  Omm,  or  Omm- 
ostrock.  About  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago,  before  the  Czars  of  Rus- 
sia were  acquainted  with  these  matters,  the  governors  of  the  cities 
Tara,  Tomskoi,  Crasnoyar,  Batsamki,  Isetskoe,  and  others,  used  to 
give  leave  to  the  inhabitants  to  go  in  caravans,  to  ransack  the  tombs, 
on  condition  that,  of  whatever  they  should  find  of  gold,  silver,  copper, 
jewels,  and  other  things  of  value,  the  governor  should  have  the  tenth. 
These  choice  antiquities  were  often  broken  and  shared  by  weight. — 
They  have  dug  for  years,  and  the  treasures  are  not  exhausted. 

The  graves  of  the  poorer  sort  have  such  things  of  copper  and  brass: 
arrows  of  copper  and  iron,  stirrups,  large  and  small  polished  plates  of 
metal,  or  mirrors,  with  characters  upon  them.  Urns  are  found  of  dif- 
ferent sizes,  some  almost  two  feet  high,  and  some  more ;  some  with,  and 


CASTS  OF  HIPPOPOTAMI. — MANUSCRIPTS. 

some  without  handles.  Some  of  these  graves  are  very  deep,  and  pro- 
bably of  great  antiquity.  Hawking  and  hunting  are  represented  upon 
an  urn  dug  out  of  a  tomb  at  Crasnoyar*.  A  whole  skeleton  of  an 
elephant  was  found  in  one  of  the  tombs f.  Bones  of  horses,  and 
sometimes  of  elephants,  are  found  in  the  numerous  graves  near  Tomsk; 
also  figures  of  deer  in  pure  gold,  an  armed  man  on  horseback,  in  brass, 
of  no  mean  design  and  execution  J ;  and  figures  of  the  hippopota- 
mus §. 

The  idols,  minotaurs,  and  ancient  manuscripts  in  the  Mongolian, 
Tangut,  and  Calmuc  characters,  stamped  on  paper  made  from  silk 
or  cotton,  and  varnished  blue  and  black,  were  brought  from  the  deserts 
on  each  side  the  upper  Irtish ;  found  in  the  temples  and  tombs.  The 
letters  are  partly  of  a  gold,  and  partly  of  a  silver  colour  ||. 

After  the  Irtish  hath  run  many  miles  through  a  hilly  country  co- 
vered with  wood,  it  passes  through  a  fruitful  plain ;  we  continued  on  the 
right  of  the  river,  and  found  a  regular  edifice  in  the  middle  of  a  de- 
sert: there  are  seven  rooms  under  one  roof;  and  it  is  called  Semi- 
palati,  or  the  Seven  Palaces.  It  is  of  brick  or  stone,  well  finished, 
and  still  entire.  Several  rooms  are  filled  with  scrolls  of  glazed  paper, 
fairly  written,  some  of  them  in  gilt  characters.  A  few  have  been  trans- 
lated :  they  are  supposed  to  be  forms  of  prayers  of  the  Lamas. 

Upon  the  hills,  and  in  the  valleys  in  these  parts,  grows  the  best  rhu- 
barb in  the  world,  without  the  least  culture. 

While  Mr.  Bell  was  at  Tomsk,  a  grave-digger  told  him,  that  once 
they  found  an  arched  vault,  in  which  were  the  remains  of  a  man,  with 
a  bow,  arrows,  lance,  and  other  arms,  lying  together  upon  a  silver  table. 

*  Strahlenberg,  pp.  325  to  407.  Bell,  p.  209.  See  the  Plate,  copied  from  that 
in  Strahlenberg.  f  Cox's  Travels,  Vol.  III.  p.  170. 

|  Bell  of  Antermony,  p. 209.  §  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Hippopotamus." 

||  Strahlenberg,  p.  325. 


GRAND  PRINCE,  HIS  CONSORT,  AND  THREE  SONS  DESTROYED. 

On  touching  the  body,  it  fell  to  dust.  The  value  of  the  table  and  arms 
was  very  considerable*. 

CONQUEST  OF  RUSSIA  BY  THE  MONGOLS. 

Genghis  Khan  having  conquered  the  whole  kingdom  of  Carisme, 
a.  D.  1211.  and  the  neighbouring  countries,  gave  the  sovereignty  of  Capschac,  to 
his  eldest  son,  Touschi  Khanf :  who  dying  six  months  before  his  fa- 
A.D.  1226.  ther,  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Batou  Khan.    Batou  Khan  entered 
A.  D.  1237.  Russia,  with  six  hundred  thousand  troops  J.    Rezan,  Moscow,  Souz- 
dal,  Torjok,  Vlademir§,  Kozelsk,  and  other  places  were  taken,  plun- 
dered and  burnt;  most  of  the  inhabitants  being  massacred,  or  loaded 
with  fetters.    Another  army  having  reduced  Kief  and  other  places 
in  the  south,  Batou  returned  to  Serai,  his  head  quarters,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Sencla,  a  small  river  which  runs  into  the  Volga.    Serai  became 
a  great  city  ||. 

A  D  1240.  M  Russia,  except  Novogorod,  was  now  tributary  to  the  Mongols, 
who  appointed  viceroys  every  where,  without  expelling  the  Russian 
princes**. 

*  Bell  of  Antermony,  Ch.  III.  Mr.  Bell  gave  some  of  the  Manuscripts  to  Sir 
Hans  Sloane. 

f  Petis  de  la  Croix,  Life  of  Genghis,  p.  105. 

t  The  Tartars  or  Mongols  were  not  known  to  the  Russians  before  the  year 
1224.    Tooke,  Hist.  Vol.  I.  p.  239. 

§  The  Grand  Prince  of  Russia,  namedYury  Vsevolodovitch,  and  one  of  his  sons, 
were  slain  in  this  terrible  invasion:  his  consort  and  his  other  two  sons  were  con- 
sumed in  the  flames  of  the  church,  atVlademir.   Tooke,  Hist,  of  Russia,  Vol.1. 245. 

||  Levesque,  Vol.  II.  Michovius  relates,  that,  in  1515,  there  were  ruins  of  three 
hundred  temples  at  Serai.  Description  of  the  Caspian  in  Tavernier,  at  the  end  of 
his  volume. 

**  Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  2. 


218 


MANY  TARTARS  MASSACRED.  219 

Batou  founded  the  city  of  Cazan.    This  monarch  was  succeeded  CHAP. 

by  his  brother  Bereke,  who  became  a  Mahomedan ;  but  he  died  before  ^**-y~**J 

-  AD  1256. 

he  could  persuade  his  subjects  to  follow  his  example*. 

The  Mongol  general  Nogai,  having  subdued  the  nations  on  the 
north  of  the  Black  Sea,  revolted,  and  kept  those  countries  for  himself.  A.D.  1259. 
The  Russians,  taking  advantage  of  this  dissension,  and  impatient  of 
their  heavy  chains,  massacred  all  the  Tartars  in  those  towns,  which 
had  confederated  for  this  purpose. 

The  Grand  Duke  Alexander  was  commanded  to  appear  at  the  horde 
with  his  troops:  but  eluding  this  danger,  he  went  alone,  made  his  A.D.  1264. 
peace  with  the  Khan;  and  died  a  few  days  after  he  had  taken  leave  f. 

The  Grand  Duke  of  Moscow  married  the  sister  of  Usbeck  Khan  f :  a 
grandson  of  Alexander  Nevski,  and  other  Russian  princes,  formed  alii-  ^  jy  ig^t 
ances  with  the  Mongols  §. 

The  Russian  Grand  Duke  Dimitri,  surnamed  Donskoi,  vanquished  A.D.  1380. 
the  Khan  Mamai,  in  a  signal  and  bloody  battle  on  the  Don  ||. 

Toctamish,  or  Tocatmish,  was  now  Khan  of  Capschac.  He  had  a 
very  powerful  army,  and  his  fiat  decided  the  fate  of  the  Russian  grand 
dukes.  He  had  been  placed  on  the  throne,  by  the  friendship  of  Tam- 
erlane, with  whom  he  quarrelled,  and  brought  on  himself  the  ven-  A.D.  1391. 
geance  of  that  conqueror,  who  defeated  him  in  a  bloody  and  terrible 
battle,  high  in  the  north*  *.   Toctamish  reestablished  himself  in  his 


*  Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  387.    Levesque,  Vol.  II.  120. 

t  Levesque,  Vol.  II.  p.  133.  Mr.  Tooke,  Hist.  Vol.  I.  p.  260,  thinks  it  probable 
that  he  was  poisoned. 

J  Usbeck  was  descended  from  Genghis  in  the  fourth  degree :  he  was  the  sixth 
sovereign  of  Capschac,  and  introduced  the  Mahomedan  religion.  See  Abul 
Ghazi  Bahadur,  Part  VII.  Ch.  II. 

§  Levesque,  Vol.  II.  p.  175.  ||  Levesque,  Vol.  II.  p.  245. 

*  *  For  some  account  of  this  remarkable  battle,  in  which  there  were  more  than 
eight  hundred  thousand  combatants,  see  Chapter  IV.  in  this  volume. 

FF  2 


220  IMMENSE  ARMIES.— BATTLE  ON  THE  TEREK. 

CHAP,  kingdom,  and  invaded  Timur's  dominions.  The  Emperor,  being  then 
y-**^  in  Georgia,  resolved  to  avenge  himself,  and  sent  his  empresses  and 
children  to  Sultania.  He  reviewed  his  army;  and  it  is  said,  that,  since 
the  time  of  Genghis  Khan,  there  had  never  been  one  so  numerous,  nor 
so  well  equipped*.  All  the  emirs  and  principal  commanders,  on  their 
knees,  assured  the  Emperor  of  their  fidelity.  Timur  marched  by 
Derbend,  till  he  found  the  enemy.  Toctamich  was  encamped,  and 
strongly  fortified  on  the  banks  of  the  Terek,  a  few  leagues  from  the 
Caspian  Sea,  with  a  mighty  and  formidable  force :  his  regiments  were 
surrounded  by  waggons  and  great  bucklers,  like  a  wall.  On  the  22nd 
A.  D.  1395.  of  April,  the  two  armies  came  to  action. 

£The  writer  of  these  notes  has  purposely  avoided  giving  long  de- 
scriptions of  battles ;  but  as  this  was  one  of  the  most  famous,  and, 
probably,  near  a  million  of  combatants  engaged,  besides  the  person  of 
Timur  being  exposed  to  extreme  peril,  the  reader  may  find  it  inter- 
esting.^] 

"On  the  morning  of  the  23rd  of  J  umaziulakher,  says  Sherefeddin, 
the  soldiers  of  both  armies  began  to  move,  and  raised  a  noise  like 
two  oceans  beating  against  each  other,  when  agitated  by  the  tempestu- 
ous wind. 

The  commanders  displayed  their  standards,  and  put  on  their  hel- 
mets at  the  first  sound  of  the  Emperor's  kettle-drums.  Timur  had 
formed  his  army  into  seven  bodies,  placing  at  the  head  those  who 
had  the  title  of  Bahader:  the  infantry,  being  covered  with  their  buck- 
lers, were  placed  before  the  cavalry.  Mirza  Mehemet  Sultan  com- 
manded the  main  body,  which  he  strengthened  with  the  bravest  men 
of  the  army.  Timur  again  rode  before  the  soldiers,  to  see  whether 
they  had  all  their  arms,  which  were  swords,  lances,  clubs,  bows,  and 

*  "  And  I  reviewed  my  armies,  and  behold,  they  stood  on  four  fursungs  (about 
thirteen  English  miles)  of  ground  in  battle  array:  and  I  gave  thanks  to  God." 
Timur's  Institutes,  p.  127. 


TAMERLANE  IS  SURROUNDED. 


221 


nets  to  catch  men*.    Then  he  mounted  at  the  head  of  twenty-seven  CHAP, 
chosen  companies,  who  composed  the  body  of  reserve.    The  enemy 
also  ranged  his  army,  opposite  Timur's,  and  displayed  his  ensigns. 

The  fight  began.  The  great  shout  was  heard  on  each  side  ;  and  on 
a  sudden,  the  air  was  darkened  with  arrows,  and  filled  with  the  cries  of 
dar!  or  ghir  l  that  is,  give  and  slay,  hold  and  take.  Then  came  a  man 
from  the  left  wing,  who  told  Timur,  that  Condge  Aglen,  Bicyaroc  Ag- 
len,  Actao,  Daoud  Soufa  (son-in-law  of  Toctamish),  and  Otourcou,  were 
advanced  with  a  considerable  detachment  from  their  right  wing,  to  at- 
tack his  left.  Whereon  Timur  immediately  marched  against  them 
with  his  reserve,  and  attacked  them  with  so  much  fury,  that  they 
turned  their  backs  and  fled.  One  of  Timur's  chosen  companies,  pur- 
sued the  enemy,  till,  when  near  their  main  body,  they  rallied,  slew 
many  of  their  pursuers,  and  beat  back  the  rest  as  far  as  where  Timur 
was.  This  created  a  confusion,  which  induced  the  enemy  to  advance, 
and  they  boldly  attacked  the  Emperor,  Notwithstanding  his  vigor- 
ous and  intrepid  resistance,  in  which  he  discharged  all  his  arrows, 
broke  his  half-pike,  and  his  sword,  they  had  now  hemmed  him  in,  if 
the  Emir  Sheik  Noureddin,  resolved  to  sacrifice  his  life  for  his  mo- 
narch's safety,  had  not  dismounted  close  by  him,  with  fifty  others,  who 
kept  off  the  enemy  with  their  arrows.  Mehemed  Azae,  his  brother 
Alicha,  and  Touzel  Baourchi,  seized  three  of  the  enemy's  waggons, 
which  they  joined  together  just  before  Timur,  to  try  to  break  the  ene- 
my's ranks:  Alladad  came  also  to  his  Majesty's  assistance,  with  his 
faithful  company;  he  got  off  his  horse,  and  posted  himself  near  Nou- 
reddin. Hussein  Malec  Coutchin  arrived  with  his  club  men,  and  Zi- 
rec  Yacou  with  his  :  the  regiment  of  guards,  with  their  ensigns,  and 
with  the  horse-tail,  came  up  and  gave  the  great  shout:  Ustoui  ad- 

*  No  instance  has  been  met  with  to  explain  how  the  Tartars  caught  their 
enemies. 


TERRIBLE  CONFLICT.— HORRIBLE  BLOODSHED. 

vanced  with  his  company,  and  posted  himself  behind  the  guards.  All 
these  troops,  having  dismounted,  stood  their  ground  against  the  ene- 
my, whose  soldiers  continued  their  attacks,  with  the  utmost  vigour ; 
nevertheless  Timur's  troops  did  not  recede,  but  poured  in  vast  showers 
of  arrows. 

Codadad  Hussein,  who  conducted  the  vanguard  of  the  left  wing, 
advanced  between  Condge  Aglen,  who  commanded  the  enemy's  right, 
and  planted  himself  behind  Actao,  who  boldly  faced  Timur. 

In  the  meantime  the  Mirza  Mehemet  Sultan,  with  his  recruits, 
marched  towards  the  left  of  the  Emperor:  these  brave  men  rushed 
upon  the  enemy,  and  with  their  scimitars  and  lances  routed  then 
right  wing,  and  constrained  Actao  to  flee. 

The  Emir  Hadgi  Seifeddin,  who  commanded  the  vanguard  of  Timur's 
right  wing,  found  himself  more  pressed;  for  the  enemy's  left,  whose 
vanguard  was  commanded  by  the  Emirs  Aisa  Bey  and  Bacchi  Coja, 
had  the  advantage  of  this  emir:  they  got  behind  him  and  enclosed 
him;  so  that,  dismounting  with  his  toman  (corps  of  ten  thousand), 
and  holding  his  great  buckler  before  him,  as  all  his  soldiers  did  like- 
wise, they  put  themselves  in  a  posture  to  discharge  their  arrows,  and 
defended  themselves  with  unshaken  resolution  against  the  enemy, 
whose  number  continually  increased.  But  though  they  fell  upon  our 
men  with  their  lances,  scimitars  and  demi-sabres,  yet  our  soldiers  did 
not  cease  repulsing  them  with  their  arrows;  slaying  the  most  forward ; 
till  Gehanca  Bahader,  who  came  from  another  part  of  the  field,  seeing 
the  danger  Seifeddin  was  in,  fell  impetuously  with  his  toman  upon  the 
enemy,  who  were  almost  conquerors :  the  club-men  gave  way  on  one 
side,  and  the  lancers  on  the  other :  the  attacks  were  sustained  so  vigor- 
ously, that  the  slaughter  was  truly  horrible. 

When  these  two  great  emirs  joined  against  the  enemy,  they  assault- 
ed them  with  so  much  courage,  that  their  left  wing  gave  way.  Mirza 


DEFEAT  OF  THE  SOVEREIGN  OF  CAPSCHAC. 


223 


Roustem,  son  of  Omar  Cheik,  rushed  like  a  thunderbolt  with  his  toman  CHAP. 

V. 

upon  the  main  body,  which  he  put  to  flight  after  having  slain  several  v^^-v-*^ 
of  them,  though  so  very  young,  to  the  honor  of  the  Emperor  his  grand- 
father. 

Yaghlibi  Behrin,  a  favorite  and  even  a  relation  of  Toctamish,  wish- 
ing to  distinguish  himself  by  some  great  action,  advanced  with  a  troop 
of  brave  men,  and  haughtily  cried  out  that  he  dared  to  the  combat 
the  most  courageous  of  Timur's  army:  he  even  called  with  a  loud 
voice  to  Osman  Bahader,  and  told  him  that  the  place  he  was  in  was 
the  field  of  battle,  and  that  he  expected  him  there.  This  piece  of 
vanity  so  incensed  Osman,  that  he  instantly  marched  against  him  at  the 
head  of  his  toman :  they  fought  hand  to  hand,  and  having  broken  their 
sabres,  they  seized  their  war- clubs  and  poignards,  and  grappled  like 
two  enraged  lions.  The  soldiers  of  their  tomans  imitated  the  exam- 
ple of  their  chiefs :  never  was  there  a  fiercer  encounter;  and  blood 
flowed  like  a  torrent.  At  length,  Osman  Bahader  overthrew  his  an- 
tagonist, and  fell  on  his  troops  with  such  fury,  that  he  entirely  defeat- 
ed them. 

All  our  generals  in  their  respective  posts  performed  their  duty  so 
well,  that,  after  a  long,  obstinate  battle,  they  made  the  enemy  give 
ground,  and  put  them  in  disorder.  Yet  we  were  not  certain  of  the 
defeat  till  the  flight  of  Toctamish,  who  shamefully  turned  his  back, 
with  the  princes  of  his  blood,  (that  is,  of  the  race  of  Touschi,  eldest 
son  of  Genghis  Khan),  the  Nevians,  or  foreign  princes,  dwelling  in 
the  kingdom  of  Capschac,  and  the  emirs  and  generals  of  his  troops. 
Then  all  our  men  rallied,  and,  joining  together,  fell  on  the  enemy, 
shouting  out,  Victory!  Vast  numbers  were  slain,  and  many  of  those 
who  were  taken  alive,  were  afterwards  hanged  *. 


Lieutenant  Hart  of  the  Fourth  Dragoons,  nephew  of  the  writer,  in  company 


224 


TAMERLANE  REWARDS  HIS  ARMY. 


CHAP.  Timur,  when  certain  of  this  result ;  dismounting  from  his  horse, 
— *-Y~'*^  humbly  knelt  down  before  God,  acknowledging  that  through  his  good- 
ness alone  he  had  gained  the  victory.  The  Emperor's  sons  and  other 
princes  fell  on  their  knees,  congratulated  his  majesty,  and  cast  upon 
him  gold  and  jewels.  The  monarch  embraced  them,  and  loaded  them 
with  praises  and  thanks.  He  distributed  treasures  on  the  most  dis- 
tinguished: and  presented  the  emir  Sheik  Noureddin,  who  had  with 
so  much  zeal  exposed  his  person  to  save  his  sovereign's  life,  with  a 
horse  of  great  price,  a  vest  of  gold  brocade,  a  belt  set  with  precious 
stones,  and  a  hundred  thousand  dinars  copeghi ;  besides  honorable  pro- 
motion in  the  army  *.. 


In  order  that  every  one  might  be  contented,  his  majesty  made  also  a 
general  promotion  of  all  the  officers  in  the  army  f ". 

Timur,  leaving  the  baggage  and  the  great  booty  which  was  cap- 
tured, went  with  his  best  troops  in  pursuit  of  Toctamish;  but,  on  his 
arrival  at  the  Volga,  finding  that  the  fugitive  monarch  had  crossed  the 
river,  Timur  invested  Coraitchac  Aglen  with  the  crown  of  Capschac, 
and  the  whole  empire  of  Touschi 

The  army  pressed  on  in  pursuit,  northward,  to  Oukek,  the  last  town 

with  George  Lamb,  Esq.  on  their  journey  from  Bombay,  in  1824,  passed  over 
the  extensive  desert  plain  upon  which  this  great  battle  was  fought:  it  is  be- 
tween Kislnr  and  Mosdok.  The  number  of  Tumuli  which  were  in  view,  was  im- 
mense: and  they  were  visible  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  :  tbey  were  of  differ- 
ent sizes,  but  perhaps  none  above  twenty-five  feet  in  height.  The  soil  was 
barren  earth;  and  here  and  there  some  straggling-  weeds,  like  worm-wood. 

*  About  thirty-three  thousand  pounds.  A  dinar  copeghi  is  seven  livres  ten 
sous,  French  money.    Sherefeddin,  Vol.  11.  p.  147,  note. 

t  Sherefeddin,  B.  III.  Ch.  L1IT. 

X  Petisde  la  Croix,  p. 389,  asserts,  that  notwithstanding  this  installation,  Schady 
Bee  succeeded  to  the  throne  in  1395.  Toctamish  fled  for  refuge  to  the  Duke  of 
Lithuania :  returned  to  dispute  the  throne,  and,  at  last,  perished  in  the  wilds  of 


Siberia. 


TAMERLANE  INVADES  RUSSIA. 


225 


of  the  dependence  of  Serai;  and  thence  into  the  impenetrable  forests  CHAP, 
of  Boular.  The  army  marched  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  to  the  w-y^*. 
place  where  it  had  ravaged  the  country  in  1391,  which  is  near  the 
Icy  Sea.  On  their  return,  the  soldiers  acquired  an  immense  plunder 
in  gold,  silver,  pearls,  rubies,  furs,  and  several  wild  animals  unknown 
among  the  Zagataians.  Many  young  persons  of  both  sexes  were  also 
brought  away  captive  *. 

As  Timur's  courage  was  not  satisfied  with  an  enterprise  till  he  had 
carried  it  to  the  utmost  perfection,  he  was  not  content  with  having 
chased  Toctamich  from  his  empire  and  destroyed  his  army:  he  there- 
fore resolved  to  reduce  to  obedience  the  nations  of  these  western  fron- 
tiers. According  to  this  generous  sentiment,  he  sent  forward  the 
Emir  Osman,  who  cut  the  Usbec  Tartars  to  pieces,  and  pillaged  their 
houses  f .  The  toman  of  Actao,  the  Usbec,  abandoned  the  country, 
and  fixed  themselves  in  the  plains  of  Isra  Yaca,  near  Natolia. 

Timur  then  went  in  person  towards  Grand  Russia,  plundering  the 
cities  as  he  went,  defeating  and  cutting  in  pieces  the  princes  and  go- 
vernors, as  far  as  the  borders  of  Rezan,  with  an  army  of  four  hundred 
thousand  men. 

Appearing  to  take  the  road  to  Moscow,  which  had  not  recovered 
from  the  devastations  committed  by  Toctamich,  the  inhabitants  of 
that  unfortunate  city  were  in  despair.  The  Grand  Duke,  Vassili  II. 
resolved  to  encounter  the  storm,  and  pitched  his  camp  on  the  borders 
of  the  Oka  J.    Against  Timur's  mighty  force  there  could  be  no  hope. 

*  Sherefeddin,Vol.  I.  p.  499. 

f  The  reader  will  recollect  that  these  generous  proceedings  are  described  by 
a  subject  of  Timur. 

%  Sberefeddin  has  asserted  that  Timur  took  Moscow;  and  many  authors  have  co- 
pied him :  but  Toctamich  had  plundered  Moscow  a  few  years  before  Timur's  invasion, 
and  he  did  not  go  to  that  city.   See  Levesque;  and  Gibbon,  Vol.  VI.  p.  338. 


G  G 


226 


CAZAN,  ASTRACHAN,  AND  SIBIR,  CONQUERED  BY  RUSSIA. 


CHAP.  Contrary  to  all  expectation,  Timur  changed  his  course,  and  turned  his 
v-^-v^w'  face  homeward  *.  His  troops  were  enriched  with  ingots  of  gold, 
silver,  linen  cloth  woven  with  great  neatness  and  skill,  skins  covered 
with  spots,  in  considerable  loads,  the  most  beautiful  sables,  ermines, 
and  other  furs  in  such  quantities  as  to  supply  the  captors  for  their  own 
and  their  children's  lives.  In  Little  Russia,  the  army  took  prodigious 
droves  of  cattle,  an  infinite  number  of  colts  which  had  not  yet  been 
shod,  besides  abundance  of  beautiful  girls  and  women  of  all  ages. 

By  this  campaign  the  power  of  Toctamich,  and  of  the  kingdom  of 
Capschac,  were  considerably  shaken;  it  was  therefore  a  fortunate 
event  for  Russia.  The  sons  of  Toctamich,  and  other  princes,  reigned 
in  rapid  succession,  and,  by  their  dissensions,  paved  the  way  for  the 
A.  D.  1475.  Russian  conquests.  Ivan  III.  being  required  by  an  order  under  the 
great  seal  of  Akhmet,  khan  of  the  Golden  Horde,  to  pay  the  accus- 
tomed tribute ;  he  treated  the  orders  with  contempt,  and  put  the  de- 
puty to  death.  The  next  year  Akhmet  entered  Russia,  ravaged  the 
frontiers,  and  reached  the  river  Oka,  where  he  was  surprised  at  the 
sight  of  a  formidable  army;  at  the  discovery  of  which  he  retraced  his 
steps,  and  no  sooner  reached  his  own  territory  than  his  troops  became 
victims  of  the  plague. 
A.  D.  1562.  Cazan,  after  a  terrible  siege,  was  taken  by  storm  by  Ivan  IV.  and 
the  country  subdued.  The  Russian  monarch,  when  he  entered 
Cazan,  wept  at  the  horrid  sight  of  the  heaps  of  the  slain  f . 

*  Levesque,  Vol.  II.  p.  267. 
f  Jerome  Bowes  was  sent  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  as  ambassador,  to  Ivan,  who  was 
the  first  who  took  the  title  of  Czar.  To  conform  to  the  etiquette  of  the  times,  he 
remained  with  his  hat  on  at  the  first  audience.  Some  one  represented  the  danger 
of  such  conduct,  and  the  evils  he  might  bring  on  himself  by  it.  "  I  am  not  unac- 
quainted with  them,"  said  he ;  "  but  I  am  the  ambassador  of  a  Queen,  who  will 
revenge  any  affront  offered  to  her  in  the  person  of  her  minister."  The  Czar,  far 
from  being  offended,  presented  him  to  the  assembly.    "  Behold,"  said  he,  "  a  brave 


THE  MOGULS  SUBDUED  BY  RUSSIA.  227 

Astrachan  falls;    and  the  Tartar  domination  in  these  quarters  CHAP. 

ends.  **^^+~> 

A.  D.  1554 

The  conquest  of  Sibir,  near  Tobolsk,  was  effected;  after  having  a!  D.  1586.' 
been  in  possession  of  the  descendants  of  Genghis  Khan  about  three 
hundred  and  fifty  years  *. 

When  king  James's  ambassador,  Sir  Thomas  Smith,  was  at  Mos-  A.D.  1604. 
cow,  in  1604,  the  Emperor  Boris's  table  was  served  by  two  hundred 
noblemen  in  coats  of  gold.    The  prince's  table  was  served  by  the 
young  dukes  of  Cazan,  Astrachan,  Siberia,  Tartaria,  and  Circassia  f . 

By  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  most  part  of  Siberia  was  A.D.  1650. 
reduced;  and  about  the  year  1711  Kamtschatka  was  added  to  the 
Russian  Empire. 

The  Crimea,  the  last  possession  of  the  descendants  of  Genghis  A.D.  1784. 
Khan,  in  the  kingdom  of  Capschac  and  in  Siberia,  fell  to  Russia, 
about  five  hundred  and  fifty  years  after  the  conquest  of  those  coun- 
tries by  the  Mongols. 

man,  who  has  the  courage  to  uphold  the  honour  of  his  sovereign  with  dignity. 
Who  among  you  would  do  as  much  for  me?" — Clausen. 

*  Levesque,  Vol.  III.  f  Milton's  Historical  Works,  Vol.  II.  p.  147. 


GG  2 


228 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Fossil  remains  of  Elephants,  Rhinoceroses,  and  Buffaloes,  found  in 

Siberia  and  Russia.  Remarks  on  the  Elephant  found  in  the 

Ice  at  the  Mouth  of  the  Lena.  Sublime  Scenery.  Ruins 

of  Ancient  Forts.  Happiness  of  the  Natives.  Numerous 

Errors  arising  from  Europeans  having  transferred  the  word 
Mammoth,  the  Siberian  Name  of  the  Walrus,  to  the  Remains 
of  Elephants,  Whales,  fyc. 

CHAP.  "The  celebrated  Bayer  conjectures,  that  the  bones  and  teeth  found 
_y^^_,  in  Siberia  belonged  to  elephants,  common  in  that  country,  during  the 
wars  of  the  Mongol  monarchs  with  the  Persians  and  Indians;  and  this 
plausible  supposition  is  in  some  measure  corroborated  by  the  dis- 
covery of  a  whole  skeleton  of  an  elephant  in  one  of  the  tombs  of  Si- 
beria. Pallas  refutes  this,  by  the  consideration  that  the  elephants 
employed  in  all  the  armies  of  India,  could  never  have  afforded  the 
vast  quantities  of  teeth  which  have  been  discovered*." 

"  Many  persons  go  from  Tomsk  (lat.  56°  30  )  to  the  graves,  eight  or 
ten  days  journey,  where  they  dig,  and  find,  among  the  ashes  of  the 
dead,  gold,  silver,  brass,  precious  stones,  armour,  sword-hilts,  bones  of 
horses,  and  sometimes  of  elephants.  It  appears  that  many  warriors  must 


*  Coxe's  Travels,  Vol.  III.  p.  170. 


MISTAKES  ABOUT  TUSKS. 

have  fallen  here,  from  the  number  of  graves :  as  they  have  dug  for 
years,  and  the  treasures  are  not  exhausted.  The  Tartars  in  the  Ba- 
raba  told  me  that  Tamerlane,  others  said  Genghis  Khan,  had  many 
engagements  in  that  country  with  the  Calmucs  *." 

"  Mammoths'  bones,  or  teeth,  says  Strahlenberg,  are  now  here  found 
in  greater  plenty  than  near  the  mouths  of  the  Oby,Jenesai,  and  Lena. 
After  these  rivers  have  swollen,  and  have  washed  away  a  good  deal  of 
the  lower  part  of  the  clay  and  sandy  banks,  then,  only,  these  teeth  are 
found.  They  are  of  different  sizes.  I  have  seen  some  above  four 
Russian  ells  long  (nine  feet  four  inches  English),  and,  at  the  thickest 
part,  nine  inches  in  diameter.  They  are  like  elephants'  teeth,  but  some- 
what more  crooked.  They  serve  to  make  any  thing  that  is  required 
of  ivory:  but,  when  they  have  been  exposed  to  the  air,  they  are  a  little 
more  yellowish  and  brown  like  cocoa-nut  shells :  and  sometimes  of  a 
blackish  bluef .  A  great  many  of  these  teeth?  which  are  white,  are  car- 
ried for  sale  to  China  %. 

I  have  taken  a  good  deal  of  pains  to  come  at  some  certainty  with 
respect  to  this  mineral,  if  I  may  call  it  so;  but  I  have  not  been  able  to 
obtain  such  an  account  as  is  capable  of  obviating  all  objections.  The 
name,  doubtless,  has  its  origin  from  the  Hebrew  and  Arabic,  denoting 
Behemot,  of  which  J ob  speaks,  Ch.  XL.  and  which  the  Arabs  pro- 
nounce Mehemet. 

*  Bell  of  Antermony,  p.  209. 

t  See  Chap.  XVI.  on  the  Walrus.  The  writer  will,  with  the  aid  of  that  chap- 
ter, endeavour  to  elucidate  this  confused  account  of  Strahlenberg's:  he  does  not 
in  his  work  mention  the  Walrus  fisheries.  He  was  thirteen  years  in  Siberia.  So 
far  the  above  means  the  elephant. 

%  These  are  all  Walrus's  teeth.  "  The  Russians  bring  many  teeth  of  a  sort  of 
Jish  to  Pekin;  they  are  whiter  than  ivory."  DuHalde,  Vol.  II.  p.263.  The  read- 
er is  requested  to  bear  in  mind  this  important  distinction  in  the  colour  of  the 
tusks. 


230  ORIGIN  OF  ERRORS  ABOUT  THE  MAMMOTH. 

CHAP.  But  our  commentators  are  not  agreed  what  kind  of  animal  is  to  be 
v^-y-w  understood  by  Behemot.  Luther,  with  many  others,  take  the  word  to 
mean  only  in  general  a  monstrous  large  beast;  and  it  seems  the  Ara- 
bians were  not  at  a  greater  certainty.  It  is  they,  doubtless,  who  brought 
this  word  into  Great  Tartary*,  for  the  Ostiacks  call  the  Mammoth 
Khosar;  the  Tartars  call  it  Khir ;  and  though  the  Arabian  name  is 
Fylil,  yet,  if  very  large,  they  add  the  adjective  Mehemodi  to  itf. 
These  Arabs  coming  into  Tartary,  and  finding  there  the  relics  of 
some  monstrous  great  beasts,  and  not  knowing  what  kind  they  might  be, 
called  these  teeth  Mehemot,  which  afterwards  became  a  proper  name 
among  the  Tartars,  and  is  by  the  Russians  corruptly  pronounced 
Mammoth.  (The  Tartars  about  J enesai  have  many  Arabic  words  in 
their  language.  Bell  of  Antermony,  Ch.  III.)  Some  think  that  Job 
meant  the  hippopotamus ;  others,  that  he  meant  the  whale.  Be  this  as 
it  will,  the  Russian  word  Mammoth  certainly  came  from  Behemot. 
Father  Gregory,  confessor  to  the  princess  Sophia,  was  many  years  an 

*  The  Arab  conquests  of  Persia  and  Maverulnere,  were  in  the  seventh  cen- 
tury. 

f  In  the  Vocabularium  Calmucko-Mungalicum  of  Strahlenberg,  the  word  for 
an  elephant  is  Sann  or  Sogo ;  and  we  here  find  that  the  Tartars  and  Ostiacks  do 
not  call  the  elephant  mammoth.  We  find  (see  Cb.  XV.)  that  the  Yakutes,  with 
Mr.  Adams,  inscribed  selichaeta,  meaning  "  montagne  de  mammoth :"  and  also 
that  the  governor  of  Siberia  means,  by  the  word  Behemot,  the  Walrus.  Job's  de- 
scription indicates,  clearly,  the  hippopotamus.  "He  eateth  grass  as  an  ox:  he 
drinketh  up  a  river:  the  willows  of  the  brook  compass  him  about:  he  lieth  in  the 
covert  of  the  reed  and  fens."  The  Arabs,  who  could  not  be  unacquainted  with 
elephants,  finding  ivory  in  Siberia,  which  was  from  an  animal  that  was  amphi- 
bious, and  fed  on  grass  or  moss,  would  naturally  think  it  a  sort  of  Behemot;  for 
they  are  acquainted  with  the  Bible,  great  part  of  which  is  transcribed  into  the 
Koran;  and  among  the  figures  found  in  the  Tartar  tombs  in  Siberia,  the  hippo- 
potamus is  one  of  them.  "  There  is  every  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  morse  has 
been  confounded,  by  some  travellers,  with  the  hippopotamus."  Rees's  Encyc. 
"  Hippopotamus." 


MAMMOTHS  ARE  AMPHIBIOUS. 

exile  in  Siberia :  he  told  me,  that  formerly  the  name  was  Memoth, 
but  that  the  Russian  dialect  had  made  the  alteration  to  Mammoth. 

The  next  question,  since  there  are  so  many  tokens  of  prodigiously 
large  animals  found  in  Siberia,  is  of  what  kind  they  must  have  been. 

As  to  the  opinion  that  they  were  amphibious  creatures,  which  is 
currently  believed  bij  the  Siberian  populace,  I  have  always  looked  on 
it  as  a  fable ;  nor  have  I  ever  met  with  two  accounts  of  that  matter 
which  were  of  a  piece. 

The  author  of  Das  Vercenderte  Russland,  p.  179,  says,  that  these 
animals  were  nine  Russian  ells  long*:  but  an  ancient  painter,  Reme- 
soff,  who  lived  at  Tobolsk,  informed  me,  in  the  presence  of  Dr. 
Messerschmidt  and  many  others,  that  he,  and  thirty  more  of  his  com- 
panions, had  seen,  between  the  cities  of  Tara  and  Tomskoi,  near  Lake 
Tsana,  an  entire  skeleton  of  one  of  these  creatures,  thirty-six  Russian 
ells  long,  and  lying  on  one  side:  and  the  distance  between  the  ribs 
was  so  great,  that  he,  standing  upright  on  the  concavity  of  one  rib, 
could  not  quite  reach  the  inner  surface  of  the  opposite  rib  with  a 
pretty  long  battle-axe  f .  To  which  may  be  added,  that  bones  of  a 
vast  bigness,  and  grinders  twenty  or  twenty-four  pounds  weight,  are 
found  almost  all  over  Siberia  J. 

Dr.  Messerschmidt  has  seen  the  bones  of  a  whole  skeleton  of  a  mon- 
strous size,  in  a  ditch,  between  Tomskoi,  and  Kasnetsko,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Tomber§. 

The  Swedish  prisoners  saw  a  head  at  Tumeen,  two  ells  and  a  half 
long,  which  the  Russians  reckoned  one  of  the  smallest  size  |j. 

*  That  is,  twenty-one  feet  English,  which  is  the  length  of  the  Walrus, 
t  A  whale,  no  doubt:  but  this  idea  seems  not  to  have  been  entertained  by  Strah- 
lenberg  or  Messerschmidt.    This  place  is  eight  hundred  miles  from  the  ocean. 
X  These  are  grinders  of  Elephants. 

§  This  is  probably  another  whale,  as  Dr.  M.  would  not  have  deemed  elephants' 
bones  monstrous.  ||  Five  feet  ten  inches  is  too  large  for  an  elephant. 


A  BEAM  FOUND,  SIXTY-FOUR  FATHOMS  DEEP. 

If  we  look  to  the  mighty  size  of  a  whole  skeleton,  and  the  teeth, 
and  their  crookedness,  it  is  impossible  they  should  be  wrecks  of  ele- 
phants ever  since  the  flood ;  though  I  formerly  thought  them  to  be 
so :  but  there  is  no  manner  of  proportion  between  them  and  the  ske- 
leton of  this  huge  animal  *;  lam  therefore  constrained  to  believe,  that 
these  teeth  and  bones  are  of  sea  animals,  such  as  the  Danes  used  for- 
merly to  bring  from  Greenland  and  Iceland,  and  sell  for  those  of  uni- 
corns f. 

What  may  make  it  probable  that  they  may  be  relics  of  the  flood,  is, 
that  thirty  years  ago  the  whole  hull  of  a  ship,  with  the  keel  to  it,  was 
found  in  the  Barabintzian  Tartary,  far  enough  (six  or  seven  hundred 
miles)  from  the  ocean :  and  a  shaped  oaken  beam  near  Tobolsky,  at 
sixty -iowc  fathoms  deep. 

Every  year,  near  the  habitations  of  the  Lamuti  and  Koraeiki  in  the 
bay  of  Lama,  whales  and  other  great  sea  animals  are  carried  into  the 
rivers,  and  when  the  water  falls,  are  left  on  the  shores.  Nor  is  it  im- 
probable that,  when  the  Oby,  Jenesai,  and  other  rivers  swell  in  so 
extraordinary  a  manner,  there  should  be  such  teeth  or  horns  of  Green- 
land sea  animals,  carried  up  and  thrown  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers, 
as  we  have  seen  in  the  example  of  a  sword  fish  J.  Or  it  may  be  con- 
jectured, that  the  Mare  Glaciate  went  farther  into  the  land  before  the 
flood ;  and,  at  the  fall  of  the  waters,  left  these  creatures  in  the  mud 
behind. 

It  is  observable  that  the  mammoths'  teeth  are  mostly  found  near 
the  Mare  Glaciale,  in  rivers  which  discharge  themselves  into  the  sea§. 

*  The  tusks  are  here  attributed  to  the  whale, 
f  This  means  the  Monodon  or  Narwal. 
%  This  also  must  allude  to  the  Narwal. 

§  Although  some  elephants'  tusks  have  been  found  in  the  places  here  alluded 
to,  the  remark,  it  is  very  reasonable  to  suppose,  arises  from  the  great  number  of 
walrus's  tusks,  found  in  that  quarter:  Strahlenberg  never  having  mentioned  that 
fishery. 


ELEPHANTS'  TUSKS.— LIVING  MAMMOTHS.  233 

Should  any  one  hereafter  account  better  for  these  appearances,  I  CHAP, 
shall  willingly  retract  my  opinion  *."    Strahlenberg,  p.  402.  \***-^>—^ 

"  On  the  banks  of  the  Oby,  and  about  Surgute,  a  great  many  tusks, 
called  Mammon's  horns,  are  found.  I  have  seen  them  weighing  above 
one  hundred  pounds.  The  commandant  had  several,  and  gave  me  one 
which  I  presented  to  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  who  was  of  opinion  that  it  was 
an  elephant's  tooth.  The  Tartars  relate  many  fables  of  its  having  been 
seen  alive.  The  Siberians  in  the  Baraba  told  me,  that  they  have  seen 
the  creature  called  Mammon,  at  the  dawn  of  day,  near  lakes  and  rivers: 
hut,  that  on  discovering  them,  the  mammon  immediately  tumbles  into  the 
water,  and  never  appears  in  the  daytime.  They  say,  it  is  about  the 
size  of  a  large  elephant,  with  a  monstrous  large  head  and  horns,  with 
which  he  makes  his  way  in  marshy  places,  and  under  ground,  where 
he  conceals  himself  till  night.  I  only  mention  these  things  as  the 
reports  of  a  superstitious  and  ignorant  people.  I  have  observed  in 
most  of  the  towns  we  passed  between  Tobolsk  and  Jenesai,  many  of 
these  mammon's  horns,  like  the  best  ivory,  except  in  the  colour,  which 
was  of  a  yellowish  huef ." 

*  The  reader  will  be  able  to  form  a  judgment  of  the  effect  of  storms  from  the 
ocean,  floods  from  the  melting-  of  snow,  and  the  consequent  rapid  changes  of  the 

surface  in  Siberia.  Elephants  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lena,  whales  eight  hundred 

miles  inland ! 

f  Bell  of  Antermony,  Ch.  XIV.  It  appears  by  this,  that  the  natives  in  these 
parts  call  both  the  tusks  of  the  elephant  and  the  living  walrus  by  the  name  of 
Mammon ;  for,  what  they  told  Mr.  Bell  about  having  seen  them  alive,  may  very 
easily  have  been  true,  as  walruses  might  visit  those  waters ;  though  it  was  na- 
tural for  Mr.  B.,  like  Strahlenberg,  to  treat  as  ignorance  the  assertion  that  ele<* 
phants  live  in  the  rivers,  he  not  imagining  that  they  alluded  to  the  walrus.  This 
is  the  usual  misunderstanding  throughout.  It  was  to  be  expected  that  numbers 
of  elephants'  bones  might  be  found  in  these  parts,  where  Kublai's  andTimur  Kaan's 
wars  and  invasions,  sometimes  of  three  hundred  thousand  troops,  were  carried 
on  for  upwards  of  thirty  years,  as  is  shown  in  Chap.  V. 

HH 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 

The  reader  will  be  able  to  judge,  by  the  preceding  extracts,  what 
confusion  of  ideas  exists,  even  in  Siberia,  on  this  subject,  among  the 
most  intelligent  gentlemen  who  have  resided  there  for  years.  The 
main  facts  on  which  the  writer  founds  his  proofs  in  this  essay  were 
either  unheeded,  or  unknown  to  Europeans  in  that  country,  viz.  the 
immense  invasions,  during  the  reigns  of  the  Grand  Khans,  Kublai  and 
Timur  Kaan,  from  China,  and  India  beyond  the  Burrampooter :  and 
the  vast  numbers  of  walruses  and  narwhals,  at  the  mouths  of  the  Lena, 
Jenesai,  and  the  Oby. 

We  will  now  endeavour  to  show,  that  wherever  bones  which  are 
really  of  the  elephant  have  been  found,  they  may,  without  any  viola- 
tion of  probability,  be  referred  to  the  wars  from  the  earliest  times 
with  China,  and  Tangut,  which  reaches  to  Assam;  besides  the  connec- 
tion there  may  have  been  with  Hindostan  from  the  western  frontier  of 
that  country,  for  much  more  than  twenty  centuries. 

The  great  number  of  years  the  descendants  of  Genghis  Khan 
reigned  in  Siberia  may  also  account  for  many  of  the  remains  of  those 
animals,  which,  according  to  the  invariable  custom  of  the  Moguls, 
were  received  as  presents,  and  used  for  the  purposes  of  pleasure  and 
hunting.  In  those  instances  which  follow,  there  are,  probably,  some 
which  relate  merely  to  reports  made  to  Europeans  by  the  Siberians  of 
mammoth  bones,  (meaning  walruses) ;  and  which  the  Europeans  would 
erroneously  conclude,  meant  elephants :  such  as  in  the  general  asser- 
tion about  those  described  in  XXVII. 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


FOSSIL  BONES  FOUND  IN  RUSSIA  AND  SIBERIA. 

I.  Sur  un  rivage  de  la  Toura,  dont  les  couches  sont  horizontals, 
je  vis  quelques  os  d'elephans:  ils  ont  ete  trouve  avec  des  belem- 
nites  et  des  glossopetres  petrifies.  (See  XL.)  Pallas,  Vol.  III. 
p.  324. 

Note  The  first  capital  of  the  Mongols  was  on  the  river  Tura,  or 

Toura,  and  was  named  Genghis  Toura,  two  hundred  and  fifty-four 
versts  west  of  Tobolsk  and  Sibir. — Tooke,  II.  60. 

II.  At  Tschirikovo  on  the  Siviaga,  thirty  versts  from  Simbersk,  bones 
of  elephants  were  found  in  several  places. 

Note — This  is  in  the  district  of  Kazan,  governed  by  Genghis's  de- 
scendants. 

III.  On  the  river  Irguis,  near  Samara,  a  horn  of  a  buffalo  weighing 
more  than  eight  pounds. 

Note  The  Samara  runs  from  the  Yaik,  Batou's  and  Sheibani's  ter- 
ritory, into  the  Volga,  government  of  Kazan. — Levesque,  Vol.  VIII. 
268.    (See  XXXVIII.  respecting  buffaloes.) 

IV.  At  Kalmycova,  on  the  Yaik,  bones  of  an  elephant,  and  the  top 
of  a  buffalo's  skull,  with  the  horns  upon  it. 

Note  Batou  founded  a  Golden  Horde  on  the  Yaik :  Sheibani  had 

hereditary  possessions  there,  and  the  vestiges  of  Saratchiensk  are  still 
visible.— Strahlenberg,  266.  Tooke,  II.  60.  Levesque,  Vol.  VIII.  268. 

V.  Near  the  Oufa  the  head  and  bones  of  an  elephant. 
Note.  ^-The  Oufa  is  in  the  district  of  Kazan. 

VI.  Near  the  river  Iset,  and  the  convent  Dolmatof,  fifty  versts 
from  Kamenski  and  Tamakoulskaiai,  some  elephants'  bones  were  found 
"  en  fouillant  une  mine  de  fer." — (Pallas).    Mammoths'  bones  were 

H  H  2 


236 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS  AND  BUFFALOES. 


CHAP,    found  near  the  fobol,  at  Alacul,  and  Dolmatoff. — (Herman's  Minera- 

VI.  '  -  .  v 

^~y~**j  logical  Map). 

Note  .The  Iset,  Dolmatoff,  and  the  Tobol  are  near  Tinmen,  Shei- 

bani's  capital. 

VII.  On  the  borders  of  the  great  and  little  Souvarisch,  many  teeth 
and  bones  were  found  spread  about,  and  in  good  preservation . 

Note  This  place  has  not  been  found  on  the  map. 

VIII.  Near  the  Ischim  and  Karrassoun,  on  the  river  bank,  bones, 
a  tusk  and  tooth  of  an  elephant. 

Note. — The  Ischim  runs  into  the  Irtish,  less  than  a  degree  south  of 
Sibir  and  Tobolsk. 

IX.  At  Tobolsk  there  is  a  very  remarkably  thick  tusk,  four  ells  and 
a  quarter  long.  (A  Russian  ell  is  twenty-eight  inches  English).  It 
was  found  near  the  river  Ischim :  and  an  enormous  buffalo  horn  was 
brought  from  the  country  watered  by  the  Ischim,  Vagai,  and 
Irtish. 

Note  Sibir  is  on  the  Irtish,  close  to  the  Vagai,  or  Viaga,  and  lower 

down  is  the  Ischim. 

X.  Near  Tschenolonskaia-Krasnoyar  on  the  Irtish,  bones  and  teeth 
of  an  elephant. 

Note  Not  found  on  the  map.    Timur  Kaan's  battles  were,  most 

of  them,  on  the  Irtish. 

XI.  From  Beresof,  one  hundred  and  fifty  versts,  and  three  versts 
above  Kousevarzskoi-Pogort  on  the  Oby:  several  elephants'  bones, 
and  a  large  buffalo's  skull,  were  found. 

Note  Beresof  is  north  of  Tobolsk,  lat.  63°  56 whither  the  To- 

bolskians  go  to  traffic  with  the  Ostiacks  and  Vogoules. — Levesque, 
Vol.  VIII.  p.  283. 

XII.  At  north  Jenesai,  below  Selakina,  and  near  the  Krasnoyark;  a 
tooth  and  bones  of  an  elephant.  (See  XXXIX). 


REMAINS  OF  A  RHINOCEROS. 

XIII.  At  Beresofski,  which  runs  into  the  Alei,  teeth  and  bones  of 
an  elephant :  teeth  supposed  to  be  of  a  buffalo,  and  of  other  animals 
unknown  to  me. — Pallas.    (See  remarks  on  XXXII). 

XIV.  Remains  of  a  rhinoceros  were  discovered  forty  versts  above 
Simovie  de  Vilouiskoe,  on  the  sands  of  the  river,  one  toise  from  the 
water,  and  four  toises  from  a  high  bank.    The  animal  was  3|  ells  long, 

high.  (Supposed  to  mean  a  Russian  arshine ;  twenty-eight  inches 
English).  It  had  the  skin  on,  and  was  much  corrupted.  "  I  saw  the 
head  and  feet  at  Irkutsk,  the  skin  shewed  its  exterior  organization: 
the  head  had  all  the  skin  on :  the  eye-lids  were  not  entirely  destroyed  ; 
and  there  were  many  short  hairs.  (The  above  extracts  are  from  the 
"  Voyage  dans  1'Asie  Septentrionale,"  by  Pallas.)  (See  XXXIX.  and 
Chap.  XVIII). 

XV.  Mr.  Martin  has  a  jaw  bone,  several  grinders,  a  calcined  ivory 
tooth,  and  a  rib  of  an  elephant ;  found  under  the  surface  of  the  soil  at  Le- 
vino,  fifty  versts  from  Penza,  and  a  piece  of  an  elephant's  tooth  found 
in  the  brook  Shuksha.  This  fragment  appears  to  be  part  of  a  per- 
fectly sound  tooth,  very  crooked,  and  much  furrowed  on  the  outside. 
These  vestiges  of  a  former  deluge  are  discoverable  in  the  uppermost 
sandy  and  loamy  strata,  which  are  frequently  intermingled  with  cylin- 
drical stones :  and,  in  the  deeper  clayey  layers,  there  are  found  the  re- 
mains of  marine  productions:  even  on  the  heights  of  Penza,  in  sink- 
ing a  well  at  a  considerable  depth,  large  quantities  of  oysters  were  dis- 
covered in  a  bed  of  clay. — Pallas's  Southern  Travels,  Eng.  Ed.  Vol.  X. 
p.  47.  (See  XL). 

Note — Penza  is  between  the  Volga  and  the  Don. 

XVI.  Near  Katinskoi,  on  the  Don,  thirty  versts  from  Voronetz,  on 
the  brink  of  the  river,  were  found,  in  1 784,  vast  numbers  of  bones 
of  very  large  size,  dispersed  in  the  greatest  disorder:   they  con- 


238 


THE  DON  IS  THE  MOGUL  FRONTIER. 


CHAP,    sist  of  teeth,  tusks,  jaw  bones,  ribs,  spinal  vertebrae,  the  os  pubis,  hip 

■^-ve^j  bones,  tibia,  &c,  not  petrified,  but  somewhat  decomposed  Selections 

from  the  Gent's.  Mag.  Vol.  II.  p.  463. 

Note  It  will  be  seen  that  the  Don  was  the  Mogul  frontier,  by 

what  follows.  "  There  are  high  promontories  on  the  sea  shore,  from 
Kersova  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tanais,  (Don) :  and  at  Kersova  and  Sol- 
daia  there  are  forty  castles.  Beyond  these  mountains,  to  the  north, 
there  is  a  most  beautiful  wood,  in  a  flat  pleasant  country,  full  of 
springs  and  rivulets.  Beyond  the  wood,  there  is  a  mighty  plain,  five 
days' journey  unto  the  end  of  the  province,  northward;  and  there  is 
a  narrow  neck  of  land,  having  the  sea  on  the  east  and  west  sides,  and  a 
canal  from  one  side  to  the  other.  The  Tartars  drove  the  Comanians 
to  the  sea  shore. 


Towards  the  borders  of  the  province,  there  are  many  salt-pits  in  the 
lakes,  where  the  salt  becomes  hard,  like  ice.  Out  of  these  pits  Batou 
and  Sartach  have  great  revenues ;  for  they  repair  thither  out  of  all 
Russia  for  salt,  and  for  each  cart-load  they  give  two  webs  of  cotton. 
There  come  ships  for  salt,  which  also  pay  tribute. 

The  third  day  after  we  left  these  precincts,  we  found  the  Tartars ; 
and  I  thought  myself  in  a  new  world :  they  flocked  about  us,  and  were 
very  inquisitive.  I  answered,  that  we  had  heard  that  their  prince, 
Sartach,  had  become  a  Christian,  and  that  I  had  your  Majesty's  letters 
to  him,  and  was  proceeding  with  them ;  and  that,  if  they  permitted  me 
not,  I  would  return  to  Batou's  kinsman,  Zagatai,  who  was  in  the  same 
province,  and  to  whom  the  Emperor  of  Constantinople  had  written  to 
let  me  pass  through  his  territories.  (Voronetz  was,  probably,  this 
Zagatai's  government).  The  day  following,  we  met  the  carts  of  Zaga- 
tai, laden  with  houses,  and  moving  like  a  city ;  they  were  drawn,  some 
by  camels,  most  by  oxen,  of  which  I  counted  twenty-two  to  one  cart, 


TRAVELLING  EQUIPAGE  OF  ZAGATAI.  239 

the  axle  of  which  was  as  thick  as  the  mast  of  a  ship.    We  were  admit-  CHAP. 

*  VI. 
ted  into  Zagatai's  presence,  with  fear  and  bashfulness;  and  I  delivered 

the  letter  from  the  Emperor  of  Constantinople.  He  inquired  the  sub- 
ject of  your  Majesty's  (Louis  IX.)  letters  to  Sartach.  I  answered,  "  the 
words  of  Christian  faith."  He  asked  what  they  were,  and  I  expound- 
ed the  Apostles'  Creed,  as  well  as  I  could,  through  a  sorry  interpreter : 
which,  after  he  had  heard,  he  shook  his  head. 

We  travelled  eastward,  having  the  sea  on  the  south,  and  a  plain  on 
the  north,  twenty  days'  journey  in  breadth,  without  tree  or  stone;  it 
is  a  most  excellent  pasture.  To  the  north  is  Russia,  wasted  by  the 
Tartars.  We  now  arrived  at  the  banks  of  the  Tanais ;  it  is  here  as  broad 
as  the  Seine  at  Paris.  Batou  and  Sartach  had  caused  cottages  to  be 
built  for  some  Russians  to  dwell  in,  to  ferry  over  ambassadors  and 
merchants.  This  river  is  the  limit  of  the  east  part  of  Russia,  seven 
hundred  miles  in  extent,  and  falls  into  the  Black  Sea;  and  all  the  rivers 
we  passed  run  into  it.  These  Tartars  remove  no  farther  north,  but 
begin  to  return  to  the  south  on  the  first  of  August.  The  two  rivers, 
where  we  travelled,  are  ten  days' journey  from  each  other. 

We  found  Sartach  within  three  days' journey  of  the  Etilia,  or  Vol- 
ga; his  court  seemed  very  great,  for  he  had  six  wives;  his  eldest 
son  had  three;  every  one  of  which  hath  a  great  house,  and  above  two 
hundred  carts.  We  were  introduced  to  Sartach,  and  entered  singing 
Salve  Regina,  and  delivered  your  Majesty's  letters ;  which,  being  in- 
terpreted and  heard,  he  permitted  us  to  carry  our  vestments  and 
books  to  our  own  lodging.  The  next  morning,  we  were  told  that  there 
were  difficulties  which  Sartach  dare  not  determine  on  without  the  ad- 
vice of  his  father  Batou.  This  Sartach  will  not  suffer  himself  to  be 
called  a  Christian. 

We  arrived  at  the  court  of  Batou,  (Serai),  which,  from  the  numerous 


ROMAN  EMPEROR  AND  HIS  ARMY  LOST. 

houses  and  tents,  appeared  like  a  mighty  city  three  or  four  leagues 
long." — Rubruquis,  in  Harris,  Vol.  1. 556.    A.  D.  1253. 

Note — Voronetz,  according  to  Rubruquis,  is  on  the  frontier  of  Rus- 
sia. Casimof,  a  Tartar  Khanate  is  north ;  the  Crimea  south ;  Serai, 
Kazan,  and  Bolgar,  east ;  all  residences  of  princes  of  the  imperial  blood 
of  Genghis.  It  is  very  probable  that  there  was  a  Khan  at  Voronetz, 
for  the  Tartars  appointed  viceroys  at  Kief  and  every  where. — Tooke, 
Vol.  II.  p.  11.  And  Voronetz  is  a  central  position.  Peter  the  Great 
was  of  opinion  that  the  bones  of  the  elephants  found  at  Voronetz  were 
left  when  Alexander  the  Great  crossed  the  Don,  according  to  some 
authors,  and  advanced  to  Kostinka.    But  Alexander  did  not  cross 

the  Don  Vide  Introduction,  and  also  Tooke's  Hist.  Vol.  I.  p. 

398.  There  are  many  gypsies  at  Voronetz. — Rees's  Cyc.  "Woro- 
netz." 

The  Romans  were  possibly  also  at  the  Don.  "  The  Emperor  De- 
cius  posted  Gallus  on  the  banks  of  the  Tanais,  with  a  competent  force ; 
and  led  in  person  the  remainder  of  his  army  against  the  Scythians. 
This  expedition  succeeded  to  his  utmost  wish.  But  Gallus  intrigued 
with  the  barbarians,  and  retained  his  post  on  the  banks  of  the  river : 
Decius  was  decoyed  into  a  marsh,  and  was  so  assailed  by  missiles, 
while  in  the  mire,  that  he  was  killed,  and  also  his  son ;  nor  did  one  of 
his  army  escape  With  life:  and  Gallus  succeeded  to  the  empire." — Zo- 
simus,  p.  15*. 

XVII.  Among  the  hills  not  far  from  Makofskoi,  remains  of  mammuts 
are  found  also  on  the  shores  of  the  rivers  Jenesai,  Trugan,  Mongamsea, 

*  Gibbon,  on  the  authority  of  Tillemont,  says,  that  this  fatal  affair  was  on  the 
Danube.  Count  Zosimus  was  Chancellor  of  the  Empire,  under  Theodosius  the 
younger,  at  Constantinople. 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


241 


and  Lena,  even  to  the  frozen  sea.    The  ice.  from  its  vast  force  in  the  CHAP. 

VI. 

spring,  carries  high  banks  before  it,  and  breaks  off  the  tops  of  hills ;  ^^y^. 
when  these  animals,  or  their  teeth  only  *,  are  discovered.  A  person  I 
had  with  me,  who  had  annually  gone  out  in  search  of  these  bones,  told 
me,  that  he  and  his  companions  had  found  the  head  of  one  of  these  crea- 
tures. The  greatest  part  of  the  flesh  was  rotten :  the  teeth  were  plac- 
ed like  those  of  the  elephant ;  they  cut  off  a  fore  foot,  the  circumference 
being  as  large  as  the  waist  of  an  ordinary  man.  The  bones  of  the 
head  were  somewhat  red,  as  though  they  were  tinctured  with  blood. 
The  heathens  of  Yakuti,  Tungusi,  and  Ostiaki,  say,  they  mostly  live 
under  ground,  and  tell  us  they  have  often  seen  the  earth  heave  up, 
when  one  of  these  beasts  was  upon  the  march,  and  when  he  was  pass- 
ed, the  place  sinks  in,  and  leaves  a  deep  pit.  That  when  they  come 
unawares  out  of  the  ground,  they  die  on  smelling  the  air :  but  they 
are  never  seen.  The  old  Siberians  are  of  opinion,  that  there  were 
elephants  in  this  country  before  the  flood,  when  the  climate  was 
warmer ;  and  that,  after  floating,  they  were  washed  and  forced  into  ca- 
vities; that  then  the  air  changed  to  cold,  and  froze  them.  The  above 
person  told  me,  he  once  found  two  teeth  that  weighed  four  hundred 
German  pounds;  a  great  many  lesser  teeth  are  found.  No  one  ever 
saw  one  of  these  animals,  therefore,  all  we  can  say  about  its  shape  is 
conjecture. — Isbrants  Ides,  in  Harris,  II.  928. 

Note — The  great  many  lesser  teeth  are  of  the  walrus;  and  the 
tales  told  about  the  walrus  are  here  confounded  with  the  elephant. 
VideCh.  XVI.  of  this  Vol. 

XVIII.  At  Astrachan,  a  grinder  was  found;  others  are  often  found 
on  the  borders  of  the  Yaik,  encrusted  with  shells.  (See  XL.)    De  Lille 


*  Walruses  shed  their  tusks,  elephants  do  not,  except  once,  when  about  a  year 
old.    Vide  Ch.  XV.    Walruses  climb  upon  eminences  to  feed  on  the  moss. 

II 


212 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


CHAP,  found  some  fragments  on  the  borders  of  the  Yaik.—Cuvier,  p.  148, 
-^-y-^  (See  the  note  on  IV.) 

XIX.  At  Swijatowski,  seventeen  versts  from  St.  Petersburg,  in 
1775,  remains  of  a  large  elephant. — Cuvier. 

Note — Presents  of  elephants  have  often  been  sent  to  St.  Petersburg. 
Thamas  Kouli  Khan,  in  1741,  sent  at  one  time  fourteen,  for  the  Em- 
peror and  the  great  lords  of  the  Court. — Levesque,  Vol.  V.  p.  251. 

The  writer  saw  an  elephant  at  St.  Petersburg.  Two,  he  was  told, 
had  been  sent  by  the  sovereign  of  Cabul  to  the  Emperor  Paul ;  one  of 
them  died  on  the  journey. 

XX.  Near  the  Volga,  a  large  skull. — Cuvier,  p.  140. 

Note — Astrachan,  Serai,  and  Cazan,  residences  of  Mongol  Khans, 
for  three  hundred  years,  are  all  on  the  Volga. 

XXI.  At  Malochnye  Vodi,  near  the  Palus  Mseotis,  at  the  depth  of 
forty -five  feet,"  une  portion  de  tete  de  femur,  q  ui  annonce  un  individu  de 
quatorze  ou  quinze  pieds  de  haut.  Deja  Phlegon  de  Tralles,  sur  la  foi 
de  Theopompe  de  Synope,  avoit  parle  d'un  cadavre,  disoit  il,  de  vingt 
quatre  coudees,  mis  au  jour  par  un  tremblement  de  terre,  pres  du 
Bosphore  Cimmerien ;  et  dont  on  jeta  les  os  dans  le  Palus  Meotide." — 
Cuvier,  141. 

Note.  These  parts  were  during  five  hundred  years  frequented  by 

the  Mongols.    The  cadavre  must  surely  be  a  whale. 

XXII.  At  Stanoi  Jarks,  on  the  banks  of  the  Indigerska,  a  skull. 
J.  B.  Muller  speaks  of  a  tusk,  the  cavity  of  which  was  full  of  a  sub- 
stance resembling  curdled  blood. — Cuvier,  145.  See  XXXIX. 

XXIII.  An  elephant  nearly  entire,  and  some  long  hairs  upon  it,  was 
discovered  by  Sarytchef,  on  the  banks  of  the  Alaseia,  beyond  the  In- 
digerska. 

In  1805,  M.  Tilasius  received  a  bunch  (faisceau)  of  hair  pulled  by 
one  Patapof  from  the  carcass  of  a  mammoth  near  the  shore  of  the 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


243 


frozen  sea.  Some  of  the  hair  and  a  piece  of  the  skin  of  this  indivi-  C**AP. 
dual  is  in  the  cabinet  du  Roi. — Cuvier,  147.    (See  XXXIX.)  v^^-v-*^ 

XXIV.  Elephants'  bones  have  been  found  along  the  Kama,  mixed 
with  marine  shells,  by  the  River  Irguin.  And  some  mixed  with 
rhinoceros'  bones. — Cuvier. 

Note.  —  The  Kama  runs  into  the  Volga  near  Kazan.    The  Irguin 
is  not  found. 

XXV.  At  Kazan,  a  thigh  bone  of  an  elephant;  and  near  Struchoff, 
in  the  government  of  Cazan,  a  whole  skeleton. — Cuvier,  148.  (See 
the  remark  on  XX.) 

XXVI.  Pallas  gives  a  long  list  of  tusks,  grinders,  and  bones  of  ele- 
phants and  rhinoceroses  sent  from  the  borders  of  the  Siviaga. — Cu- 
vier. 

Note  The  Siviaga  runs  into  the  Volga,  some  miles  west  of  the 

city  of  Kazan.    See  remarks  on  XX. 

XXVII.  The  Samoyeds  find  many  elephants'  bones  on  the  naked 
plains  through  which  the  Oby  runs  to  the  sea. — Cuvier. 

Note.  In  Ch.  V.  it  is  shewn,  that  immense  armies  were  kept  in  Si- 
beria for  many  years  to  dispute  tlie  empire:  that  they  were  stationed 
about  the  Irtish,  and  that  they  drove  Caidou,  the  rebel,  in  the  year 
1297,  further  into  the  north. 

XVIII.  An  enormous  heap  was  found  at  Kutschewarski  on  the 
Oby.— Cuvier.    (See  XXXIX.) 

Note  This  place  is  not  on  the  maps  which  the  writer  has  seen. 

The  ruins  of  the  Mongol  town  of  Tontoura,  near  Tomsk,  are  on 
the  Oby. 

XXIX.  A  grinder  and  some  bones  were  procured  by  Pallas,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Obdorsk.— Cuvier.  (See  XXVII.) 

XXX.  The  Irtish  and  the  Tobol,  the  Toura  and  the  Isete,  have, 
perhaps,  afforded  the  greatest  quantity  of  remains:  they  are  found  at 


244 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


CHAP.  Verkotourie,  near  the  source  of  the  Toura,  and  along  the  Irtish,  un- 
-■-v-w  der  various  soils,  and  mixed  with  shells. — Cuvier,  149. 

Note — These  rivers  are  all  in  the  very  neighbourhood  of  the  places 
where  the  Mongol  sovereigns  resided  during  three  centuries. 

XXXI.  The  banks  of  the  Ticuman,  the  Tom,  and  the  Keta,  furnish 
elephants'  remains. — Cuvier.    (See  remark  on  XXX.  and  Ch.  V.) 

XXXII.  Remains  were  found  on  the  Alei  and  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  in  which  the  Oby  rises. — Cuvier. 

Note — The  Alei  runs  into  the  Oby  near  the  country  of  the  Al- 
bintzi,  who  are  supposed  to  be  Mongols,  two  or  three  degrees  south  of 
the  ruins  of  Tontoura,  near  Tomsk. — Levesque,  Vol.  VII.  420. 

XXXIII.  "Pallas  assure  avoir  une  molaire  tiree  d'une  minede 
la  montagne  de  serpens,  et  trouvee  avec  des  entrogues." — Cuvier,  p. 


Note — Remains  have  also  been  found  in  the  mines  of  Britain,  and 
may  have  been  conveyed  thither  by  miners.  There  can  be  no  reason 
to  conclude  that  the  entrochi  and  the  tooth  are  coeval. 

XXXIV.  Remains  have  often  been  found  near  Krasnoyarsk,  to  lat. 
70°  below  Selaniko.  (See  flag,  No.  27,  on  the  map).  On  the  Angara. 
On  the  Chatang.  At  Irkutsk.  Between  the  Lena  and  Jenesai. — 'See 
XXXIX. 

XXXV.  On  the  banks  of  the  Kolyma  and  the  Anadyr,  remains  of 
elephants  have  been  found.    See  XXXIX. 

XXXVI.  The  greatest  quantity  is  found  on  the  islands  between  the 
mouths  of  the  Lena  and  Indigerska.  The  nearest  island  is  thirty-six 
leagues  in  length.  The  whole  island,  (it  has  often  been  repeated)  is 
formed  of  mammoths'  bones,  with  horns  and  skulls  of  buffaloes,  or 
some  animal  which  resembles  them,  and  some  rhinoceroses'  horns. 
Another  island,  five  leagues  farther,  and  twelve  leagues  long,  furnishes 
the  same  bones  and  teeth. — Cuvier,  151.    According  to  Pallas,  there 


150. 


MAMMOTHS,  BUFFALOES,  UNICORNS.  24 

is  scarcely  a  river,  from  the  Don  to  the  Tschutskoi  Nos,  in  the  hanks  CHAP. 

VI. 

of  which  the  bones  are  not  abundant.  And  the  two  islands  at  the  mouth  \^~v~*m 
of  the  Indigerska  seem  entirely  composed  of  these  bones,  and  those  of 
the  elk,  rhinoceros,  and  other  large  quadrupeds.  —  Rees's  Addenda. 
"  Mammoth." 

Note  These  are  the  paragraphs  and  allusions  which  have  filled  the 

world  with  astonishment;  and  history,  geology,  and  natural  history, 
with  marvellous  perplexity  and  conjecture.  Instead  of  elephants, 
rhinoseroses,  elks,  and  buffaloes  of  foreign  regions  having  furnished 
these  heaps  of  bones,  it  will  be  seen  that  they  are  remains  of  native 
animals  of  the  places  where  they  are  found.  The  elephants  and  rhi- 
noceroses, which  have  been  found  in  Siberia,  have  caused  the  con- 
fusion. Here  mammoths  are  walruses:  to  prove  which,  the  reader 
is  referred  to  Strahlenberg,  p.  402;  Muschkin  Puschkin  in  Pere 
Avril's  Travels,  p.  176;  and  to  this  Vol.  Chap.  XVI. 

Unicorns  are  narwhals,  which  are  called  sea-unicorns,  and  abound 
in  that  sea:  they  also  go  up  the  rivers  .Rees'  Cyc.  "  Unicorn."  Strah- 
lenberg, p.  405. 

Elks  abound  in  Siberia,  and  in  the  most  northern  parts.  The  Rus- 
sians call  themLosh;  the  Siberians  name  them  Kuyck.  They  are  of  an 
immense  size;  the  hides  are  valuable,  and  they  supply  a  great  quanti- 
ty of  food.  The  natives  kill  about  four  hundred  annually  at  Wilwa, 
near  the  river  Pytschiora,  the  mouth  of  which  is  in  latitude  67°. — See 
Strahlenberg,  p.  361.  There  are  elks  also  in  Nova  Zembla. — Abul 
Ghazi,  notes,  Vol.  II.  p.  663. 

The  horns  of  the  animal  resembling  a  buffalo  may  be  the  cattle  of 
the  country :  the  largest  cattle  of  this  kind  are  found  among  the  Cal- 
muc  Tartars.  (Encyc.  Brit.  "  Bos.")  The  Burat hairy  bull  is  more  like  the 
Yak  of  Thibet  and  Napaul  than  to  the  ordinary  cattle;  and  the  vici- 
nity of  Tangut  and  China  may  have  introduced  a  variety  of  such  ani- 


246 


REMAINS  OF  THE  WALRUS. 


CHAP,    mals ;  besides  which  there  are  wild  cattle  like  the  urus  in  Siberia. 
VI. 

^-v*"*-^  These  animals,  and  the  elk,  may  have  supplied  the  fishers  with  diet  for 
many  centuries.  The  information  is  derived  from  the  walrus  and  nar- 
whal fishermen,  who  are  the  native  Tunguses,  Yakutes,  and  Yukagri, 
no  traveller  or  naturalist  having  visited  those  islands.  Pallas  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  within  twenty  degrees  of  the  latitude  of 
those  isles,  nor  does  he  mention  the  Walrus  fisheries ;  neither  do  Strah- 
lenberg  nor  Mr.  Adams.  Goldsmith,  in  his  Natural  History,  says, 
quantities  of  the  hones  of  the  walrus  are  found  on  the  coasts  of  the 
North  Sea.  Do  not  these  elucidations  assist,  in  a  most  material  man- 
ner, to  untie  this  Gordian  Knot? 

XXXVII.  A  petrified  fragment  was  found  in  the  sea  of  Aral.  See 
XL.  The  borders  of  the  Jaxartes  produce  some:  the  Bucharians 
bring  ivory  from  that  place. — Cuvier,  152. 


Note — There  are  Bucharians  resident  at  Tobolsk,  Tiumen,  Tara, 
and  Tourinsk,  all  of  which  are  places  in  which  the  tusks  of  elephants 
and  walruses  are  articles  of  traffic. 

XXXVIII.  On  the  hills  and  in  the  woods,  near  Tomsk,  is  found 
the  urus,  exceeding  in  size  and  strength  all  the  horned  species :  no 
animal  is  so  fierce.  There  is  in  the  same  woods  a  species  of  oxen  not 
so  big  as  the  Urus,  with  a  high  shoulder  and  a  flowing  tail  like  a 
horse. — Bell  of  Antermony,  Chap.  III.  Of  the  craniums  of  two  ani- 
mals found  in  Siberia,  Pallas  refers  one  to  the  ordinary  buffalo,  but 
has  since  attributed  them  to  a  species,  natives  of  Thibet,  named  Arni. 
Cuvier  proves,  by  osteologic  comparison,  that  those  craniums  have  not 
belonged  to  the  buffalo.  The  other  appeared  to  Pallas  to  have  be- 
longed to  the  cape  or  musk  ox  of  Canada.  Cuvier  shews  that  they 
cannot  have  belonged  to  the  former,  but  he  has  not  a  cranium  of  the 
arni  or  musk  ox,  to  compare  with  them. — Rees's  Cycl.  "  Bones." 

Note — The  buffalo's  bones,  found  in  Siberia,  were  probably  from 


THE  GRAND  KHAN  SENDS  TO  THE  ARCTIC  SEA.  247 

Assam,  Thibet,  or  China;  and  of  a  kind  that  may  never  have  been  C^AP* 
known  to  European  naturalists.  They  must  have  been  very  common, 
as  armour  was  often  made  of  buffalo  hides,  hardened  by  fire  *.  In 
the  year  1289,  Timur  Kaan  was  Governor  of  Yunan  and  seven 
neighbouring  kingdoms,  Bangalla,  Mien,  &c.  It  was  he  who  invaded 
Siberia. — See  Marco  Polo,  p.  424,  note  827.  These  countries,  and 
Siberia  itself,  produce  many  varieties  of  the  bos  genus,  some  of  which 
might  accompany  a  Tartar  army  as  beasts  of  burthen.  "  The  oxen 
which  draw  the  houses  of  the  Mongols  are  the  finest  ornament  of 
their  equipages;  they  are  extremely  strong,  have  hair  like  horses, 
and  that  on  their  tails  is  white,  and  soft  as  silk.  They  are  from  the 
country  of  Tangut,  and  are  very  dear." — Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  358. 
In  addition  to  the  above,  it  appears,  in  Van  Braam's  J ournal,  March  25, 
1795,  that  buffaloes  are  employed  by  the  Chinese  to  draw  their  four- 
wheeled  carts ;  and  many  may  thus  have  been  in  Siberia  with  the 
armies. 

XXXIX.  In  the  Chapter  on  Siberia,  it  has  been  shewn  that  the 
neighbourhood  of  Irkutsk,  Angara,  and  Baikal,  is  the  original  sove- 
reignty of  Genghis's  family,  and  his  birth  place.  The  most  ancient 
Tartar  duke  had  his  court  there,  when  Carpini  passed,  in  1246.  The 
Grand  Khans  sent  to  the  mouth  of  the  Lena,  and  to  an  island  in 
the  Arctic  Sea,  for  ger-falcons  and  peregrine-falcons.  In  the  chapter 
on  Kublai,  it  appears  that  he  kept  many  thousands  of  falconers,  and 
that  his  elephants  were  made  use  of  on  all  occasions,  even  sent  to  any 
distance  to  fetch  evergreen  trees,  with  their  roots,  for  his  gardens. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  but  the  tribute  in  furs  must  have  been  great, 
to  supply  such  numerous  and  rich  sovereigns,  and  their  sumptuous 
courts :  and  that  they  were  collected  up  to  the  Arctic  Sea,  at  the  Oby 


Marco  Polo,  p.  210. 


248 


ELEPHANTS  SENT  AS  PRESENTS. 


CHAP.  and  Jenesai,  as  well  as  at  the  Lena,  to  the  mouth  of  which  the  natives 
-s^v-^  were  driven  by  the  Mongols.  Mongols  inhabit  above  the  river  Tun- 
gouska.  (Tooke,  I.  265.)  The  peissy,  some  white  and  some  dove 
colour,  the  size  of  a  fox,  with  a  thick  warm  fur,  which  is  found  far  to 
the  north  of  Jenesai,  is  much  esteemed  by  the  great  men  in  the  north 
of  China. — Bell  of  Antermony,  Ch,  III.  It  is  not  in  the  least  probable, 
that  the  Grand  Khan,  after  the  year  1272,  did  not  send  elephants  both 
for  the  purposes  of  war,  (as  he  always  used  them  in  his  armies),  and 
also  for  the  pleasures  of  hunting,  to  his  near  relations,  the  sovereigns 
of  Siberia  and  Capschac :  possessing,  as  he  did,  thousands  and  receiving 
them  annually  in  tribute*.  If  the  British  army  dared  meet  Caesar, 
but  fled  at  the  sight  of  his  elephant,  we  may  judge  how  useful  those 
animals  would  be  in  Siberia :  thus,  elephants  may  have  been  sent  to 
every  country.  It  is  not  necessary  that  the  elephants  and  rhinoce- 
roses should  have  been  sent  to  the  mouths  of  the  rivers :  they  may 
have  floated  from  a  considerable  distance,  and  been  blown  into  other 
rivers. 


XL.  As  shells  and  marine  substances  are  found  every  where,  there 
appears  no  good  reason  to  conclude  that  they  are  coeval  with  the  fossil 
bones.  The  Caspian,  Lake  Aral,  and  the  region  around,  are  all  salt: 
which  may  account  for  marine  shells  adhering  to  some  of  the  fossil 
bones :  and  also  for  their  petrified  appearance,  if  four  or  five  centuries 
be  not  enough  to  petrify  them. 

The  reader  will  now  be  able  to  judge  whether  these  heaps  of  bones 
in  particular,  so  amply  accounted  for  in  Ch.  XVI.  but  described  as 

*  In  Chapter  IV.  we  baveseen  that  Timur  presented  his  friends  with  elephants. 
The  Mogul  Emperor,  Akbar,  gave  presents  of  elephants  daily.  Ayeen  Akbari, 
Vol.  I.  p.  221.  Kublai's  means  of  doing  the  same  thing  were  much  greater  than 
Akbar's.  It  has  ever  been  the  custom  in  these  countries.  See  Xenophon,  Cyro- 
predia,  B.VIII.  p.  214. 


ARCTIC  SEA.— HAPPINESS.— BEAUTIFUL  SCENES. 

elephants  &c.  from  the  reports  of  the  Siberians,  or  the  Europeans  in 
Siberia,  may  not  have  been  walrus,  narwal,  whale,  or  other  remains, 
such  as  we  might  expect  to  find  accumulated  in  those  very  places 
after  more  than  two  thousand  years  that  these  fisheries  have  been 
known. 

ON  THE  ELEPHANT  FOUND  IN  THE  ICE  AT  THE 
MOUTH  OF  THE  LENA. 

Mr.  Adams  set  out  from  Yakutsk  on  the  7th  of  June,  and  towards 
the  end  of  the  month  reached  Kumak-Surka,  where  he  was  detained  by 
contrary  winds;  this  place  was  inhabited  by  forty  or  fifty  Tunguse 
families,  who  were  then  fishing  to  provide  the  winter  stock.  All  the 
coast  was  covered  with  scaffolding  and  cabanes  quite  filled  with  peo- 
ple, full  of  innocent  gaiety,  actively  employed,  singing  while  throwing 
their  nets,  and  some  dancing  the  charya,  a  dance  of  that  country. 
"  I  was  filled  with  emotions  of  joy,"  says  Mr.  Adams,  "  at  these  de- 
lightful scenes  and  so  much  happiness  amidst  the  polar  ice." 

There  are  not  any  islands  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lena,  near  to  which 
it  is  narrower,  more  rapid,  and  deeper  than  in  any  part  of  its  course*. 

The  opposite  side  of  the  river  is  highly  picturesque.  The  moun- 
tains present  a  variety  of  scenes  which  exalt  the  soul :  their  summits 
covered  with  snow,  with  an  azure  tint,  contrast  finely  with  the  deep, 
dark,  and  wild  vallies.  The  painter  might  in  vain  seek  in  Siberia  more 
beautiful  scenes  than  are  found  at  Kumak-Surka,  and  which  are  cele- 
brated in  the  songs  of  the  natives. 

*  Monsieur  Lesseps  crossed  this  noble  river  at  Yakutsk,  on  the  29th  of  June: 
he  was  four  hours  on  the  passage,  in  a  diagonal  direction,  «nd  estimates  the  width 
at  two  leagues.    See  his  Journal,  Vol.  II.  p.  289. 

K  K 


249 


250 


SADDLED  REIN-DEER. 


CHAP.  The  wind,  at  length,  being  fair,  "  I  sent  my  rein-deer  across  the 
river,"  says  Mr.  Adams,  "and  followed  the  next  morning,  au  lever  du 
soleil,  accompanied  by  Schumachoff,  and  sixteen  others.  The  saddle 
of  my  rein-deer  being  tied  only  with  a  leather  strap,  and  the  Tunguses 
not  making  use  of  stirrups,  I  had  several  falls,  and  experienced  pain 
and  inconvenience *." 

After  two  days'  journey  over  mountains,  vallies,  and  arid  plains,  the 
party  crossed  the  isthmus  of  Tamut,  where  many  wild  rein-deer  are 
caught  in  the  autumn,  as  they  migrate  towards  Borchaya  in  the  Icy 
Sea.  On  the  third  day,  the  tents  were  pitched,  a  few  hundred  paces 
from  the  mammoth. 

Towards  the  end  of  August,  when  the  fisheries  of  the  Lena  are  over, 
Schumachoff  and  his  brethren  visit  the  isthmus  of  Tamut,  to  hunt  or 
fish.  In  1799,  having  built  a  dwelling  for  his  wife  on  the  borders 
of  lake  Oncoul,  il  s'embarqua  pour  aller  voir  s'il  ne  trouveroit  sur  les 
cotes  quelques  comes  de  Mammouthf .  Un  jour  il  appe^ut  au  milieu 
des  gla9ons,  un  bloc  informe  qui  ne  ressembloit  en  rien  aux  amas  de 
bois  flottant  qu'on  a  coutume  d'y  trouver.  II  mit  pied  a  terre,  grim- 
pa  sur  un  rocher,  et  observa  dans  toutes  ses  faces,  cet  object  nouveau, 
niais  il  ne  put  reconnoitre  ce  que  c'etoit.    L'annee  suivante  il  decouv- 

*  Marco  Polo  had  asserted  that  the  natives  of  Siberia  ride  upon  rein-deer, 
which  was  supposed  to  be  a  wrong-  translation  of  an  early  version.  This  is  ano- 
ther and  a  very  remarkable  proof  of  that  traveller's  extensive  information,  and  of 
his  correctness.  See  Marsden's  M.  Polo,  p.  222 ;  Behring's  Travels ;  Abul  Ghazi, 
Vol.  II.  p.  640 ;  and  Lesseps's  Journal,  Vol.  II.  p. 303.  The  eastern  part  of  Sibe- 
ria, in  which  is  the  Lena,  was  in  the  Grand  Khan's  division,  and  is  named  North- 
ern Turquestau.  (De  la  Croix's  Map,  Life  of  Timur,  Vol.  II.  p.426.)  Mr.  Adams 
found  ruins  of  ancient  forts  in  these  parts,  and  also  mutilated  remains  of  grotesque 
figures. 

f  By  which  Mr.  A.  no  doubt  understood  elephants'  tusks:  but  these  are  the  re- 
gions where  the  natives  range  the  coast  in  search  of  tusks  of  the  walrus,  as  a  regu- 
lar and  certain  subsistence;  and  which,  as  has  been  shewn,  they  name  Mammoth. 


THE  LENA  ELEPHANT. 


'J51 


rit  au  merae  lieu  la  carcasse  d'une  vache  marine  (trichechus  rosmarus).  CHAP. 
La  masse,  qu'il  avoit  vu  autrefois,  etoit  plus  degagee  des  gla^ns :  ^w-y-^ 
mais  il  ne  savoit  encore  ce  que  ce  pouvoit  etre.    Vers  la  fin  de  1'ete 
suivant,  le  flanc  tout  entier  de  l'animal  et  une  des  defenses  etoient  dis- 
tinctement  sorties  des  glacons. 

A  son  retour  aux  bords  du  lac  Oncoul,  il  communiqua  cette  de- 
couverte  extraordinaire  a  sa  femme  et  a  quelques-uns  de  ses  amis; 
mais  leur  maniere  d'envisager  la  chose,  le  combla  d'amertume  et  de 
tristesse.  Les  vieillards  racontoient,  qu'ils  avoient  oui  dire  a  ieurs 
peres,  qu'un  monstre  pareil  s'etoit  fait  voir  jadis  dans  la  meme  pres- 
qu'ile,  et  que  toute  la  famille  de  celui  qui  1'avoit  apercu,  avoit  ete  eteinte 
en  tres-peu  de  temps.  Le  mamouth,  per  consequent,  fut  unanime- 
ment  envisage  comme  un  angure  d'une  calamite  future ;  et  le  chef  Tun- 
guse  en  concut  une  si  vive  inquietude  qu'il  tomba  dangereusement 
malade;  mais,  enfin,  etant  un  peu  convalescent,  sa  premiere  idee  fut 
le  profit  qu'il  pouvoit  avoir  en  vendant  les  defenses  de  cet  animal,  qui 
etoient  d'une  beaute  et  d'une  grandeur  extraordinaire. 

II  donna  ordre  de  cacher  soigneusement  l'endroit  ou  le  mamouth 
se  trouvoit,  et  d'en  eloigner,  sous  differens  pretextes,  tous  les  etran- 
gers:  chargeant  en  meme  temps  des  gens  affides,  de  veiller  a  ce  qu'on 
n'enlevat  ce  tresor. 

Enfin,  vers  la  fin  de  la  cinquieme  annee,  les  desirs  ardens  de  Schu- 
machoff  furent  heureusement  accomplis*;  car  la  partie  des  glaces  qui 
se  trouvoit  entre  les  terres  et  le  mamouth,  ayant  fondu  plus  vite  que 
le  reste,  le  niveau  devint  pente,  et  cette  masse  enorme,  poussee  par 
son  propre  poids,  vint  s'echouer  a  la  cote  sur  un  banc  de  sable.  C'est 
ce  dont  furent  temoins  deux  Tonguses,  qui  depuis  m'ont  accompagne 
dans  mon  voyage. 

*  The  reader  will  judge  whether  it  can  be  a  common  occurrence  to  find  ele- 
phants' tusks. 


KK  2 


252 


THE  LENA  ELEPHANT. 


CHAP.       Au  mois  de  Mars,  1804,  Schumachoff  vint  a  son  mamouth,  et  lul 
VI. 

ayant  fait  couper  les  cornes,  il  les  echangea  avec  le  marchand  Bal- 
tunoff  contre  des  merchandises,  pour  la  valeur  de  cinquante  rubles. 


Deux  annees  apres,  par  consequent  dans  la  septieme  de  la  decou- 
verte  du  mamouth,  un  hazard  heureux  voulut  que  je  parcourusse  ces 
regions,  et  je  me  felicite  de  pouvoir  constater  un  fait  qu'on  auroit  cru 
si  invraisemblable.  Je  trouvai  le  mamouth,  encore  sur  le  meme  lieu 
mais  tout-a-fait  mutile.  Le  proprietaire  se  tenoit  content  du  profit 
quil  en  avoit  tire,  et  les  Jakutes  du  voisinage  depeceoient  les  chairs, 
dont  ils  nourissoient  leurs  chiens  pendant  la  disette.  Les  betes  fero- 
ces,  les  ours  blancs,  les  loups,  les  goulus,  et  les  renards,  en  fesoient  de 
meme. 

Le  squelette  presque  decharne  se  trouvoit  tout  entier  a  l'exception 
d'un  pied  de  devant.  Les  yeux  out  ete  preserves  et  Ton  distinguoit 
encore  a  l'ceil  gauche  la  prunelle.  Les  parties  les  moins  endomma- 
gees  sont,  un  pied  de  devant  et  un  de  derriere;  ils  sont  couvert  de 
peau  et  ont  encore  la  solle.  Suivant  l'assertion  du  chef  Tunguse,  l'ani- 
mal  avoit  ete  si  gros  et  si  biennourri,  que  le  ventre  lui  pendoit  jusqu'au 
dela  des  jointures  des  genoux*.  C'est  un  male,  avec  une  longue 
criniere  au  col,  mais  sans  queue;  et  sans  trompe,  selon  Schumachofff ; 
mais  il  me  paroit  plus  probable  qu'elle  a  ete  enlevee  par  les  betes  fe- 
roces. 

La  peau  dont  je  possede  les  trois  quarts  est  d'un  gris  fonce,  et  cou- 
verte  d'un  poil  rougeatre,  et  de  crins  noirs.    La  carcasse  a  une  hau- 

*  This  is  the  kind  of  elephant  which  is,  atTipera,  called  Kooraareah,  or  Daunte- 
Iah.    SeeCb.XV.  of  this  Vol. 

t  If  this  animal  had  been  killed  in  warfare,  the  trunk  might  have  been  cut  off, 
which  was  not  uncommon.  "  In  a  short  time,  the  field  of  battle  was  covered  with 
elephants'  trunks,  and  the  heads  and  bodies  of  the  slain."  Sherefeddin's  Life  of 
Timur  Bee,  Vol.  II.  p.  59.  Tn  the  battle  of  Magnesia,  Scipio's  troops  cut  off  the 
trunks  of  above  thirty  of  the  elephants  of  Antiochus.    Livy,  B.  XXXVII. 


GREAT  NUMBER  OF  TUSKS. 

teur  de  quatre  archines,  (nine  feet  four  inches  English)  sur  pres  de 
sept  de  longueur  (sixteen  feet  four  inches)  depuis  la  pointe  du  nezjus- 
qu  'au  coccix*.  Chacune  des  deux  comes  a  une  toise  et  demi  de  long, 
et  les  deux  ensemble  pesent  dix  pouds  (three  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds) f.  La  tete  seule  pese  onze  et  demi  pouds  (four  hundred  and 
fourteen  pounds).  Je  fis  fouillerle  terrain  pour recueillir  tousles  crins 
que  les  ours  blancs  avoient  foules  dans  le  sol  humide,  en  devorant  les 
chairs.    Je  reussis  a  me  procurer  plus  d'un  poud  de  crins. 

Le  lieu  ou  j'ai  trouve  le  mamouth,  est  eloigne  de  la  cote  d'environ 
60  pas ;  et  de  1'escarpement  de  la  glace  d'ou  il  avoit  glisse\  de  pres 
de  100  pas.  Cet  escarpement  occupe  precis6ment  le  milieu  entre 
les  deux  pointes  de  1'  isthme,  et  a  trois  verstes  de  long,  et  dans  la 
place  meme  ou  se  trouvoit  le  mamouth  cette  roche  a  une  elevation 
perpendiculaire  de  30  a  40  toises:  l'animal  etoit  a  sept  toises  de 
la  superficie  de  la  glace.  Sa  substance  est  une  glace  claire,  pure  et 
d'un  gout  piquant;  elle  s'incline  vers  la  mer ;  sa  cime  est  couverte  d'une 
couche  de  mousse  et  de  terre  friable  d'une  demie  archine  d'epaisseur. 
Pendant  les  chaleurs  du  mois  de  Juillet  une  partie  de  cette  croute  se 
fond,  mais  1'autre  reste  gelee. 

La  curiosite  me  fit  monter  sur  deux  autres  collines  assez  eloignees 
de  la  mer;  elles  etoient  de  la  meme  matiere  et  moins  couvertes  de 
mousse.  De  distance  en  distance,  on  voyoit  des  morceaux  de  bois 
d'une  grandeur  enorme,  et  de  toutes  les  esp^ces  que  produit  la  Siberie : 
les  habitans  appellent  cette  espece  de  bois  Adamshina;  et  la  distin- 
guent  des  bois  flottants  qu'ils  appellent  Noahshina J.  On  voyoit  aussi 
des  cornes  de  mamouth  en  grande  quantity  qui  s'elevoient  entre  les 

*  "  Le  coccix  qui  forme  l'alongement  du  bassin  prouve  evidemnient  quel'animal 
n'a  point  eu  dequeue,"  says  Mr.  Adams;  but  when  the  skeleton  was  carefully  put 
together,  it  was  found  that  a  part  of  the  tail  remained ;  as  appears  in  the  engrav- 
ing in  Baron  Cuvier's  great  work. 

f  See  Plate,  Ch.  IX. 

t  The  Mahomedan  Mongols  are  familiar  with  the  history  of  the  deluge. 


THE  LENA  ELEPHANT. 

creux  des  rochers.  Elles  paroissoient  toutes  d'une  fraicheur  eton- 
nante*.  Toute  la  cote  etoit  comme  tapissee  des  plantes  lesplus  variees 
et  les  plus  belles  que  produisent  les  bords  de  la  mer  glaciale ;  mais 
elles  n'avoient  que  deux  pouces  de  haut. 

*  Mr.  Adams  does  not  mention  any  other  particulars  of  this  most  extraordinary 
discovery ;  and,  as  the  size  of  the  tusks  is  not  mentioned,  it  is  probable  that  Mr.  A. 
may  have  seen  morse  tusks,  for  the  following-  reasons: 

I.  It  appears  (in  Chap.  XVI.)  that  all  writers  and  travellers  mention  the  extraor- 
dinary tvhiteness  of  morse  tusks;  but  that  the  large  elephants'  tusks  are  dirty  and 
stained. 

II.  Schumachoff,  if  he  was  present,  would  naturally  call  them  Behemoth  or  Ma- 
moth  tusks,  that  being,  according  to  Muschkin  Puschkin  and  Strahlenberg,  the 
name  of  the  morse  in  those  regions. 

III.  "  Near  Anadyr,  and  the  Tchudskoi  promontory,  an  astonishing  quantity  of 
morse  teeth  are  found,  which  leads  Gmelin  to  believe  that  they  retire  to  these  un- 
frequented regions  for  shedding  their  large  old  tusks,  for  young'  ones."  Tooke's 
Russia,  Vol.  III.  p.  100.  NarwaFs  horns  are  also  found  in  those  parts  of  Siberia. 
Encyc.  Brit.  "  Siberia." 

IV.  "  Morses'  tusks  are  found  an  ell  and  a  half  long,  (a  Russian  ell  is  twenty- 
eight  inches  English),  and  thirty  pounds  weight."    Buffon,  XXXIV.  62. 

V.  Eminent  naturalists,  even  Daubenton,  have  mistaken  morses'  tusks  for  those  of 
the  elephant.  (Cuvier,  p.  142).  If  these  were  elephants' tusks,  it  may  truly  be 
said  to  be  a  greater  wonder  than  to  find  the  animal  floated  to  the  mouth  of  the  ri- 
ver; but,  when  we  consider  that  the  morses  are  natives  of  those  mossy  rocks,  and 
that  it  is  their  habit  to  climb  upon  the  rocks  to  seek  their  food,  there  is  every  pro- 
bability in  favor  of  the  supposition,  that  what  Mr.  Adams  saw,  was  a  number  of 
morse  tusks.  If  one  or  more  have  been  brought  away,  (which  Mr.  A.  does  not 
mention),  the  doubt  now  expressed  can  easily  be  determined.  It  is  scarcely  pos- 
sible to  imagine  that  Schumachoff,  who  had  sighed  five  long  years  after  two  tusks, 
should  have  left  this  "grande  quantite,"  to  "  waste  their  whiteness  in  the  desert 
air."  Elephants' tusks  long  exposed  to  the  air  are  not  white;  nor  do  elephants 
shed  their  tusks  after  the  first  year  of  their  age,  when  they  do  not  exceed  the 
length  of  two  inches,  (Corse).  The  hunters  after  morses'  tusks  are  likely  to  deposit 
them  in  such  places  till  they  return  homeward.  Could  these  belong  to  Schuma- 
choff himself  ?  If  so,  he  certainly  would  not  offer  Mr.  Adams  any  assistance  to- 
wards approaching  them.  If  they  were  not  his,  he  would  no  doubt  keep  his  in- 
tention to  appropriate  them  to  himself  a  secret  from  any  one.  On  the  whole,  it  ap- 
pears almost  certain,  that  they  were  walrus's,  and  not  elephant's  tusks;  and  would 
naturally  be  pointed  out  by  Schumachoff  under  their  real  name  of  mammoths. 


254 


TWO  CROSSES  ERECTED. 

Autour  de  la  carcasse  on  voyoit  une  multitude  d'autres  plantes,  telles 
que  la  cineraria  aquatica  et  quelques  especes  de  pedicularis,  qui  ne 
sont  point  connues  encore  dans  l'histoire  naturelle.  Nous  erigeames 
deux  croix,  chacune  assez  solidement  construite,  et  haute  de  six  toises : 
l'une  se  trouve  sur  le  roc  de  glace  d'ou  ce  mamouth  avoit  glisse ;  et 
l'autre  sur  l'eminence  meme  ou  nous  1'avions  trouve.  Les  Tunguses 
ont  donne  a  l'une  le  nom  de  Croix  de  1'Ambassade,  et  k  l'autre  celui  de 
Croix  de  Mamouth.  L'  elevation  elle  meme  re9ut  le  nom  de  Selichaeta, 
ou  Montagne  de  Mamouth  *. 

Je  trouvai  une  grande  quantite  d'ambre,  sur  le  rivage.  *  *  *  Arrive 
a  Jakutsk  j'eus  le  bonheur  d'y  racheter  les  defenses  du  mamouth,  et 
de  la  j'expediai  le  tout  pour  St.  Petersbourg. 

Le  mamouth  est  couvert  d'un  poil  tres  epais,  sur  tous  le  corps  et 
a  sur  le  col  une  longue  crinieref .  Quand  meme  je  mettrai  en  doute 
les  rapports  de  mes  compagnons  de  voyage,  il  est  cependant  evident, 
que  les  crins  de  la  longueur  d'une  archine,  qui  se  trouverent  a  la  tete, 
aux  oreilles,  et  au  col  de  1'animal,  ont  du,  necessairement,  appartenir 
a  la  criniere.  Le  poil  epais  semble  indiquer  qu'il  appartenoit  aux  re- 
gions septentrionales. 

On  a  trouve  des  restes  pareils,  il  y  a  deux  ans,  sur  les  bords  de  la 
Lena  a  une  plus  grande  distance  de  la  mer;  et  ils  £toient  tombes  dans 
le  lit  du  fleuve :  on  en  a  trouve  d'autres  dans  les  provinces  plus  meri- 
dionales  du  Volga,  en  Allemagne  et  meme  en  Espagne.  Ce  sont  au- 
tant  de  preuves  incontestable  d'un  deluge  general,  &c. 

*  Selichaeta  being  so  different  a  word,  it  appears  thatthe  Tschudskis  do  not  call 
the  elephant  by  the  word  Mammoth :  and  this  agrees  with  Strahlenberg,  (p.  404), 
who  says,  that  the  Siberians  currently  believe  the  mammoth  to  be  an  amphibious 
creature.    The  Ostiacks  call  the  elephant  Khosar;  the  Tartars  call  \tKhir. 

f  Is  not  the  circumstance  of  this  beast  being-  thickly  covered  with  hair,  astrong* 
presumption  that  it  did  not  die  in  a  hot  climate?  See  remarks  on  the  ecliptic  in 
the  introduction. 


256  HAIR  OF  THE  LENA  ELEPHANT. 

CHAP.       Je  prie  le  lecteur  curieux  de  vouloir  bien,  dans  ce  moment,  se  con- 
v^»v-^/  tenter  de  cet  essai.    Je  me  propose  de  donner  1'osteologie  du  ma- 
mouth,  avec  toute  l'exactitude  dont  Camper  nous  a  donn6  l'exemple 
dans  un  travail  pareil  *." 


REMARKS  ON  THE  HAIR  OF  THE  LENA  ELEPHANT. 

The  indefatigable  and  scientific  labour  of  the  Baron  Cuvier  enables 
the  writer  to  give  the  exact  description  of  the  hair  of  this  elephant,  the 
most  interesting  circumstance  attending  it. 

"  La  peau  est  semblable  a  celle  de  1'elephant  vivant,  mais  on  n'y  dis- 
tingue pas  les  points  bruns  qu'on  remarque  dans  l'esp£ce  des  Indes. 
M.  Adams  assure  que  la  peau  est  d'un  gris  fonc6.  Il-y-a  trois  sortes 
de  poils. 

I.  Les  plus  longs  ont  12  a  15  polices;  leur  couleur  brunf,  et 
leur  epaisseur  a  peu  pres  celle  d'un  crin  de  cheval. 

II.  Il-y-a  ensuite  de  plus  courts,  de  dix  de  neuf  pouses,  qui  sont  en 
meme  temps  un  peu  plus  minces,  et  de  couleur  fauve. 

III.  La  laine,  qui  paroit  avoir  garni  la  racine  des  longs  poils,  a  de 
quatre  a  cinq  pouces  de  longeur,  elle  est  assez  fine,  passablement  douce, 
et  un  peu  frisee,  sur  tout  vers  sa  racine :  sa  couleur  est  un  fauve  clair. 

*  These  extracts  are  taken  from  the  supplement  to  the  "Journal  du  Nord,"No. 
XXXTI.  published  at  St.  Petersburg-,  in  1805.  The  writer  regrets  that  he  has 
not  seen  Mr.  Adams's  second  publication.  He  wrote  to  a  friend  at  St.  Petersburg 
to  procure  it,  but  his  friend  could  not  find  out  that  it  had  ever  appeared.  The 
plate  and  description  in  Cuvier's  fourth  volume,  give  all  the  information  that  is  ne- 
cessary. The  writer  saw  the  bones  of  this  animal  immediately  after  they  were 
taken  out  of  the  chests  in  which  they  were  conveyed  to  St.  Petersburg:  they  still 
retained  a  most  powerful  stench. 

t  The  brown  colour  of  these  may  probably  be  accounted  for  by  their  having 
been  long  "foules  dans  leso!  humide,"  by  the  wild  beasts;  as  Mr.  Adams, speaking 
of  the  ffeneral  quantity,  says  "  crius  noirs." 


HAIR  OF  A  LIVING  ELEPHANT. 

Sur  ce  qui  reste  de  peau  a  Petersbourg,  les  poils  sont  uses  et  courts. 
M.  Adams  nous  dit  q'une  des  oreilles  de  son  individu,  etoit  garnie  d'une 
tuffe  de  crins."  The  above  is  a  correct  description  of  the  hairs  of  the 
same  elephant,  which  are  in  the  museum  of  the  Royal  College  of  Sur- 
geons, in  London:— 

Mr.  Adams  mentions  that  "  il  est  evident  que  les  crins  de  la  longueur 
d'une  archine  (twenty-eight  inches),  qui  se  trouverent  encore  a  la  tete, 
aux  oreilles,  et  au  col  de  l'animal ;  ont  du  necessairement,  appartenir  a 
la  criniere." 

The  first  kind  of  hair,  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  in  length,  is  of  the 
thickness  of  the  head  and  lip  hairs  of  the  living  elephant,  now  (1825) 
in  London ;  one  is  three  inches  and  a  half,  and  the  other  two  inches 
and  nine-tenths  long  *. 

The  second  kind,  of  nine  or  ten  inches,  is  in  thickness  like  that  taken 
from  the  fetlock  of  the  living  animal,  which  is  five  and  a  half  inches 
long. 

The  third  kind,  or  wool,  is  from  four  to  five  inches  long. — It  is 
shown,  in  Ch.  XV.,  that  Leeuwenhoek  discovered  the  skin  of  a  modern 
elephant  to  be  full  of  small  hairs. 

The  hair  from  the  proboscis  of  the  live  elephant  is  stronger  than 
the  others,  is  three  inches  and  four-tenths  long,  and  corresponds  with 
those  discovered  upon  the  body  of  the  Dundee  elephant,  described  in 
the  Phil.  Trans.  No.  326.  The  hairs  upon  the  body  of  the  London 
living  elephant  were  too  short  to  be  procured. 

Living  elephants  have  hair  about  the  ears,  like  the  one  found  by 
Mr.  Adams. 

Mr.  Adams's  account  of  the  mane  is  not  sufficiently  distinct,  to  allow 
an  accurate  judgment  to  be  formed  about  that  particular.  If  the 
quality  and  disposition  of  the  hairs  upon  the  fossil  and  living  elephants 

*  See  the  plate  in  Ch.  IX. 


WINTER  FOOD  AND  LONG  HAIR  OF  ANIMALS  IN  SIBERIA. 

should  be  found  to  be  similar,  the  only  remaining  difference  would 
be  in  the  length.  Elephants  bear  a  degree  of  cold  which  has  been 
found  to  kill  men  and  horses :  would  a  change  of  food  encourage  the 
growth  of  their  hair?  The  green  winter  food  of  a  northern  climate 
must  be  extremely  warm  and  stimulating.  Elephants  will  eat  every 
variety  of  food.  Sheep  and  cattle,  in  hard  winters  in  England,  are  fed 
on  the  tops  of  fir-trees  *. 

The  Siberian  climate  encourages  the  growth  of  the  hair,  wool,  and 
fur  of  all  animals. 

The  Burat  ox,  near  Lake  Baikal,  is  covered  with  long  hair  some- 
thing like  the  Yak  (Bos  grunniens)  f .  The  dogs  near  Sabatskoinos, 
have  hair  a  quarter  of  an  ell  in  length  %■  "  The  black  ox  of  Tartary, 
that  had  been  tamed,  had  long  hair  like  the  camel's,  but  much  thicker ; 
he  was  quite  black,  had  short  legs,  and  walked  slowly  and  heavily ;  he 
had  a  saddle  upon  his  back,  and  a  man  led  him  with  a  halter  §." 

The  summer  hair  of  the  Argali,  or  wild  ram,  is  short  and  sleek ;  the 
winter  coat  long  and  shaggy,  much  mixed  with  wool:  the  horns 
weigh  forty  pounds.  They  feed  on  bitter  and  acrid  mountain  herbs  ||. 
Is  human  hair  longer  in  Siberia  than  in  other  countries?  Isbrandts 
Ides  measured  the  hair  of  a  Tungusian  Prince,  which  he  found  to  be 
four  Dutch  ells  long:  and  that  of  his  son  (six  years  of  age),  seven- 
eighths  of  an  ell  **. 

The  Yakutes  keep  their  horses  out  all  the  winter;  they  scrape  aside 
the  snow  with  their  hoofs,  to  get  at  the  grass ;  they  eat  the  buds 
of  the  birch  and  aspen,  become  sleeker,  fatter,  and  handsomer  than 

*  Rees's  Encyc. 44  Fir  tree." 

f  Isbrandts  Ides,  in  Harris's  Voyage,  II.  p.  929,  with  an  engraving. 
t  Strahlenberg,  p.  450. 

§  Pere  Gerbillon,  in  Du  Halde,  Vol.  II.  p.  284. 

H  Tooke,  Vol.  III.  p.  78. 

**  In  Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  II.  p. 792. 


FEEDING  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


259 


in  summer,  when  their  hair  grows  long  *,  Favorite  elephants  are  CI^P- 
washed  clean  and  oiled:  the  Emperor  Akbar  and  the  King  of  Pegu  v^-^^. 
allowed  sugar  and  ghee,  or  butter,  to  be  given  to  their  best  elephants ; 
such  treatment  might  promote  the  growth  of  hair,  in  cold  countries, 
where  they  would  probably  not  be  rubbed  with  pumice-stone ;  not  be- 
ing exposed  to  mud  and  dustf.  The  doubtful  circumstance  of  the 
mane  appears  to  be  the  only  material  difference  between  the  hair  of 
the  living  and  of  this  fossil  elephant.  Such  hairs  as  are  upon  the  pro- 
boscis of  the  live  elephant,  and  upon  the  skin  (as  described  by  Mr. 
Blair)  of  the  Dundee  elephant,  if  growing  upon  the  back,  as  in  the 
musk  ox,  might,  from  their  stiffness,  appear  as  a  mane. 

There  does  not  appear  to  be  such  a  difference  between  the  bones 
of  the  Lena  elephant,  and  those  of  other  fossil  skeletons,  as  to  entitle 
the  former  to  be  considered  as  a  different  species.  "  From  the  draw- 
ing I  have  before  me,"  says  Baron  Cuvier,  "  I  have  every  reason  to 
believe,  that  the  sockets  of  the  teeth  of  Mr.  Adams's  elephant,  have 
the  same  proportional  lengths  with  those  of  other  fossil  elephants,  of 
which  the  entire  skulls  have  been  found  in  other  places  %. 

"  The  alveoli  of  the  tusks  of  the  fossil  elephant,  found  on  the  banks 
of  the  Indigerska,  of  another  found  in  Siberia,  of  one  (seen  by  Baron 
Cuvier)  at  Florence,  and  of  one  from  the  banks  of  the  Volga,  are  three 
times  as  long  as  those  of  India  and  Africa,  of  the  same  size.  The  alve- 
oli of  Mr.  Adams's  elephant  had  been  somewhat  mutilated  by  the 
Tunguses,  and  therefore  an  accurate  idea  of  their  length  could  not  be 

*  Strahlenberg,  385.    Levesque,  Vol.  VII.  p.  436. 

f  "  We  went  to  the  river  to  see  the  king's  and  great  noblemen's  elephants 
washed.  When  they  have  soaked  themselves  in  the  water,  they  are  rubbed  and 
cleaned  with  pumice-stone,  and  after  they  are  dry,  they  are  rubbed  with  oil  of 
cocoa."    Tavernier,  P.  II.  B.  I.  Ch.  XIX.    Ayeen  Akbery,  Vol.  I.  p.  127. 

X  Theory  of  the  Earth,  p,  227. 


LL2 


260  ALVEOLI  OF  THE  TUSKS. 

CHAP,    formed.  This  difference  in  the  alveoli  is  of  the  more  importance,  as  it 
VI. 

v^-y-w'  agrees  with  the  form  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  required  a  different  con- 
formation of  the  trunk  of  a  fossil  elephant*."  The  reader  is  referred 
to  Chapter  XVIII,  for  the  reasons  adduced  why  the  fossil  elephants 
differ  from  the  modern  individuals  which  have  been  described. 


Cuvier,  p.  176. 


261 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Description  of  the  ancient  City  of  Bangalla,  which  stood  at  the 

Eastern  Mouth  of  the  Ganges,  now  overflowed.  Burmah. 

 Pegu,  SfC.  in  the  Sixteenth  Century;  all  of  which  had  been 

subject  to  the  Grand  Khans,  in  the  Thirteenth  and  Fourteenth 

Centuries.  Bloody  Wars  for  a  White  Elephant.  Siege  of 

Pegu. — — Deplorable  Famine.  Immense  Treasures. 

Much  historical  confusion  has  arisen  from  the  circumstance  of         ,  „ 

LHAr. 

there  having  been  two  countries  called  Bengal,  or  Bangalla;  one  of  VII. 
which  had  Gour  for  its  capital,  for  the  space  of  two  thousand  three 
hundred  years  * :  the  capital  of  the  other  was  Bangalla,  a  very  ancient 
city,  situated  at  the  eastern  mouth  of  the  Ganges. 

"  In  some  ancient  maps,  and  books  of  travels,  we  meet  with  a  city 
named  Bengalla :  but  no  traces  of  such  a  place  now  exist.  It  is  de- 
scribed as  being  near  the  eastern  mouth  of  the  Ganges :  and  I  con- 
ceive, that  the  site  of  it  has  been  carried  away  by  the  river;  as,  in  my 
remembrance,  a  vast  tract  of  land  has  disappeared  thereabouts.  Ben- 
galla appears  to  have  been  in  existence  during  the  early  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century  f." 


*  Vide  Hamilton's  East  India  Gazetteer,"  Bengal." 
t  Rennel's  Memoir,  p.  57. 


262  KING  OF  BANGALLA  IS  DEFEATED  BY  KUBLAI'S  OFFICER. 

CHAP.       Marco  Polo  relates,  that  the  Grand  Khan  Kublai  conquered  Mien 

v^-y-w  and  Bangalla ;  which  has  been  contradicted,  in  consequence,  it  is  pre- 
sumed, of  its  not  being  generally  known  that  there  were  two  king- 
doms of  that  name.  The  object  of  these  notes  is,  to  prove  that  there 
were  two  kingdoms ;  and  that  Kublai  conquered  the  eastern  one. 

Hindostan  was  frequently  invaded  by  the  Mongols,  in  the  thirteenth 
century,  in  great  force,  by  way  of  Moultan ;  and  Great  Bengal  was 
invaded  by  Chitta  and  Tibet;  but  they  were  always  repulsed  with 
loss  *. 

In  1272,  the  Grand  Khan  Kublai  sent  an  army  into  the  countries 
of  Vochang  and  Karazan,  for  their  protection  against  any  attack 
from  foreigners.  It  was  afterwards  his  Majesty's  policy  to  ap- 
point his  own  sons  to  the  governments;  and  these  places  were 
erected  into  a  principality  for  his  grandson,  Timur  Kaan,  or  Cen- 
Temurf . 

When  the  King  of  Mien  (Ava)  and  Bengalla  heard  that  an  army  of 
Tartars  had  arrived  at  Vochang,  he  advanced  immediately,  to  prevent 
the  Grand  Khan  from  stationing  a  force  on  the  borders  of  his  domi- 
nions. He  had  a  numerous  army  of  horse  and  foot,  and  a  multitude 
of  elephants,  with  twelve  or  sixteen  men  in  each  castle  upon  their 
backs.  Nestardin,  (a  Nestorian),  a  brave  and  able  officer,  was  much 
alarmed,  having  but  twelve  thousand  men,  (veterans,  indeed,  and 
valiant  soldiers).  The  king  had  sixty  thousand  troops,  and  one 
thousand  elephants.  Nestardin  reminded  his  troops,  that  their  very 
name  was  a  terror  to  the  whole  world,  and  promised  to  lead  them  to 
victory. 

A  bloody  action  ensued,  which  lasted  from  morning  till  noon. 

*  Vide  Dow's  History,  Vol.  I.  and  Chap.  II.  of  this  Vol. 

f  Timur  Kaan,  while  in  this  government,  invaded  Siberia.    See  Chap.  V. 


ANCIENT  KINGDOM  AND  CITY  OF  BANGALLA. 


2C3 


The  Mongols  were  finally  victorious,  which  was  attributed  to  their  Cy^p° 
wearing  armour.    Their  horses  being  frightened  by  the  elephants,  the  vj^sr** 
men  dismounted,  tied  them  to  trees,  and  fought  on  foot.    Two  hun- 
dred elephants,  or  more,  were  captured. 

From  this  period,  the  khan  has  always  employed  elephants  in  his 
armies,  which,  before  that  time,  he  had  not  done.  The  consequences 
of  the  victory  were,  that  his  Majesty  acquired  possession  of  the  whole 
of  the  territories  of  the  king  of  Mien  and  Bangalla,  and  annexed  them 
to  his  dominions*. 

"  The  kings  of  Bangala,  in  times  past,  were  chosen  of  the  Abyssini- 
an slaves.  Chandigan,  Aracan,  and  Siripur  are,  by  Fernandes,  placed 
in  Bangala  as  so  many  kingdoms  f.  Patenau,  by  Frederic  and  Fitch, 
is  reckoned  to  be  another  Bengalan  kingdom,  which  our  countryman 
Fitch  calleth  the  kingdom  of  Gouren;  so  that,  under  this  name,  Ben- 
gala,  there  are  many  seigniories,  all,  or  most  part,  subject  to  the  Mo- 
gol.  (Latter  end  of  the  sixteenth  century).  Goura  and  Bengala  are  fair 
cities^." 

"  The  king,  (Shah  Jehan),  sent  for  his  second  son,  Sultan  Sujah,  from 
Candahar  to  Lahore,  and  conferred  on  him  the  government  of  the 
great  and  little  kingdoms  of  Bengala  §." 

Vincent  Le  Blanc  visited  the  city  of  Bangalla  about  the  middle  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  or  earlier.    "  Leaving  Coromandel,"  says  he, 

*  Marco  Polo,  B.II.  Chapters  XXXIX.  XJLIL  and  notes.  Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  I. 
p.  614.    In  the  first  is  a  long  and  interesting  account  of  this  battle. 

In  1279  the  governor  of  Bengal  revolted  from  the  Patau  Emperor  Balin,  but 
was  defeated,  and  killed;  this  was  the  Great  Bengal  of  which  Gour  was  the  capi- 
tal.   See  Dow,  Vol.  I.  p,  201;  and  Hamilton's  Gazetteer,  "  Bengal." 

t  See  in  the  Courier,  Sept.  22,1824,  a  letter  from  the  Viceroy  of  Pegu;  in 
which  he  represents  that  Ramoo,  Chittagong,  and  Bengal,  form  part  of  the  four 
great  cities  of  Aracan. 

t  Purcbas,  Vol.  I.  (B.)  pp.  576  and  577.   Barclay's  Univ.  Traveller,  p.  495. 

§  Ogilby's  Asia,  Part  I.  p.  161. 


PORT  AND  COMMERCE  OF  BANGALLA. 


"  we  came  to  the  kingdom  of  Bengale  the  chief  town  whereof  bears 
that  name  by  the  Portuguese  and  other  nations  *,  and  by  the  natives 
Batacouta,  one  of  the  greatest  antiquity  in  the  Indies.  Some  would 
have  it  to  be  old  Ganges,  a  royal  town  on  the  river  Ganges.  This 
kingdom  of  Bengal  was,  three  hundred  years  since,  subdued  by  the  Great 
Khan  of  Tartary,  but  subsequently  freed  herself ;  and  after  that  was  con- 
quered by  the  Parthians  (Patans) ;  and  is  at  last  subject  to  the  Great 
Mogul.  It  contains  Sirapu,  Chandecan,  Bacal,  Aracan,  and  other 
countries.  The  town  is  situate  upon  one  of  the  mouths  of  the  Gan- 
ges, there  being  two  principal  mouths.  Eastward  of  the  kingdom 
is  the  province  of  Edaspa,  which  joins  the  kingdom  of  Aracan.  On 
another  side  is  the  province  of  Mien  and  Tapacura,  under  the  obe- 
dience of  Bengal.  On  one  side  south  is  cape  Sogoraf ;  on  the  other 
Catigan,  at  the  third  outlet  of  the  Ganges,  over  against  Verma,  (Bur- 
mah),  where  there  are  mines  of  chrysolites,  topazes,  &c.  Verma 
formerly  belonged  to  Bengal ;  the  people  are  civil,  and  all  nations  have 
free  traffic,  Persians,  Greeks,  Abyssinians,  Chinese,  Guzerats,  Jews.. 
Georgians,  &c. 

CITY  OF  BANGALLA. 

There  is  great  commerce  by  the  mouth  of  the  Ganges  up  to  Ben- 
gal, which  is  six  miles  by  land,  and  twenty  by  water ;  when  the  tide 
is  lowest,  it  is  three  fathoms  deep  round  the  walls  of  the  town,  so 
that  ships  safely  enter  the  haven,  and  are  there  very  numerous.  'Tis 

*  It  is  not  uncommon  for  cities  in  India  to  have  two  names.  Dacca,  is  known 
also  by  the  name  of  Jehanguir-nagur. 

f  Luekipore,  Chittagong,  Dacca,  and  as  far  as  the  Cossimbazar  Island,  were 
claimed  as  a  part  of  the  former  kingdom  of  Aracan,  by  the  king  of  Ava,  in  1796. 
Journal  of  Captain  Hiram  Cox,  p.  300. 


POWER  OF  THE  KING  OF  BANGALLA. 


265 


thought  there  are  forty  thousand  families  in  the  town,  and  the  king  Cyj^P' 
dwells  in  a  stately  palace  built  with  brick,  with  fine  gardens  to  it.  v_**-y—^ 
He  keeps  a  great  court,  and  his  chief  guard  consists  of  women*, 
as  is  the  custom  in  Java,  Sumatra,  and  Fransiane :  they  are  valiant, 
expert  horse  riders  and  vaulters,  and  use  the  scimitar,  buckler,  and 
battle-axe  dexterously :  the  handsomest  are  richly  attired.  The  king 
is  an  idolater,  a  valiant  person,  and  can  draw  into  the  field  a  great 
army  of  horse  and  foot:  his  country  has  wherewithal,  for  he  is  rich  in 
gold,  silver,  and  jewels.  He  can  draw  forth  two  thousand  elephants, 
caparisoned:  they  have  daggers  on  their  tusks,  and  they  carry  as  many 
men  as  those  of  Narsingue.  They  use  hand-guns,  muskets,  swords, 
pikes,  javelins,  and  halberds.  The  king  has  many  tributaries,  as  the 
king  of  Apura,  who  pays  him  fifty  elephants  yearly,  and  twelve  pearls 
for  the  ransoms  of  six  towns,  which  the  king  of  Bengal  had  taken  from 
him.  The  king  of  Dimali  is  also  tributary  for  having  assisted  the 
king  of  Apuraf,  and  pays  fifty  horses  and  fifty  thousand  crowns  an- 
nually. The  king  of  OrixaJ,  and  many  more,  pay  him  tribute  too; 
though  he  himself,  in  some  manner,  acknowledges  the  Mogul  §.  His 

*  In  Chap.  VIII.  of  this  work,  the  reader  will  meet  with  several  instances  of  the 
warlike  character  of  the  Indian  ladies. 

t  There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  this  means  Tipera,  which  was  not  subjected 
by  the  Moguls  till  the  eighteenth  century.    Hamilton's  Gazetteer. 

$  Orissa,  orOrixa,  was  formerly  independent  of  Great  Bengal.  Ayeen  Akbery, 
Vol.  II.  p.  11.  It  was  conquered  by  the  Moguls  in  1592.  Hamilton's  Gazetteer, 
,e  Orissa." 

§  I  cannot  find  this  city  under  either  name  in  the  Ayeen  Akbery.  But,  Vol.  II. 
p.  3,  it  is  said  "  Esau  Asghan  carried  his  conquests  towards  the  east,  into  a  coun- 
try called  Bhatty,  which  is  reckoned  a  part  of  this  Subah,  and  caused  the 
Kootba  to  be  read,  and  the  coin  to  be  struck  in  the  name  of  bis  present  majes- 
ty. Bordering  upon  Bhattyis  an  extensive  country,  subjecttothe  chief  of  Tiprah, 
whom  they  stile  Yeyah  Manick.  Their  military  force  consists  of  a  thousand  ele- 
phants, and  two  hundred  thousand  infantry."  AH  this  is  reconcilable  with  the 
description  of  Le  Blanc's  Batacouta. 

MM 


236  CHITTAGONG.— COMMERCE  WITH  ARABIA. 

CHAP,  army  is  ever  ready  on  the  instant  to  appear  in  the  field.  The  Benga- 
^p-^-^i  lians  live  much  on  preserves,  sweetmeats,  and  spices.  Their  clothings 
are  of  cotton,  silk,  damask,  satin,  and  velvet:  they  are  the  gallantest 
persons  of  the  East,  both  men  and  women,  and  both  sexes  go  richly  ap- 
pareled and  perfumed.  All  other  nations  flock  thither  to  spend  their 
money,  and  chiefly  to  buy  young  eunuchs,  as  slaves  to  manage  their 
business,  and  to  guard  their  women ;  for  which  purpose,  they  have 
been  instructed  in  all  manner  of  virtues ;  they  are  sold  for  sixty  to  a 
hundred  ducats  *.  The  complexions  of  the  Bengalians  are  rather  fair 
than  black.  Their  coats  are  almost  of  the  Italian  mode,  especially 
when  they  visit  ladies,  as  at  Ormus.  Their  principal  drink  is  milk 
with  sugar  and  cinnamon. 

We  went  from  Bengala  to  Castigan  f ,  where  were  arrived  some 
Portuguese  ships;  this  place  belongs  to  the  king  of  Bengala.  We 
sold  our  opium  at  Castigan,  a  drug  of  much  profit,  and  of  which  a 
great  quantity  is  brought  from  Aden,  and  other  parts  of  Arabia.  At 
the  island  of  Sondina,  which  is  inhabited  by  Mahometans,  we  got 
all  the  victuals  we  wanted,  almost  for  nothing.  From  all  antiquity, 
the  people  of  Sondina  were  subject  to  the  same  king  as  the  Castiga- 
nians  J." 

Mr.  Marsden,  in  his  edition  of  Marco  Polo,  note  881,  observes,  that 
in  B  amusio's  text,  the  true  reading  is,  that  the  Grand  Khan  did  not 
conquer  Bengala;  and  that  the  king  of  Mien  and  Bengala  means  but 
one  person :  also  that  the  mistake  obviously  arises  from  the  omission 
of  the  negative.  Ramusio  died  in  1557,  and  probably  had  heard, 
by  way  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  that  the  Great  Bengal  (of  which 

*  Marco  Polo,  page 452,  asserts  the  same  thing:  "  The  Bangalians  sell  to  the 
merchants  who  resort  thither,  eunuchs,  of  whom  there  are  numbers  in  the  country, 
as  slaves;  for  all  prisoners  taken  in  war  are  presently  emasculated." 

f  Doubtless,  Chittagong'. 

$  Vincent  Le  Blanc,  Part  I.  Ch.  XXII.  and  Purchas,  Vol.  I.  (B)  Book  V. 


BENGAL  OR  BANGALLA  PAYS  TRIBUTE  TO  CHINA.  267 

Gour  was  the  capital),  had  never  been  conquered  by  Kublai,  the  Grand  CHAP. 

VII. 

Khan.  It  is  highly  probable  (if  the  omission  of  the  negative  be  an  v_»-y-»_; 
error  of  the  printer)  that,  on  this  intelligence,  he,  as  he  imagined,  cor- 
rected the  early  editions  of  Polo.  Gour  had  been  the  capital,  from  the 
seventh  century  before  Christ,  till  the  reign  of  Akbar;  when  it  was 
abandoned,  in  consequence  of  the  unwholesome  air;  after  which  Tan- 
da,  Rajemahl,  Dacca,  and  Moorshedabad,  were  successively  the  capi- 
tals of  Great  Bengal. 

Gibbon,  Chap.  LXIV.  says,  "  the  kingdoms  of  Tonquin,  Cochin 
China,  Pegu,  Bengal,  and  Thibet,  were  reduced  to  different  degrees  of 
tribute  and  obedience,  by  the  effect  or  terror  of  Kublai's  arms." 

We  find  that  vessels  arrived  at  Fokein,  in  1286,  from  the  tributary 
kingdom  of  Bengal  *.  We  may  conclude  that  there  certainly  were 
two  Bengals,  and  that,  as  this  was  not  generally  known,  these  mis- 
takes have  arisen. 

Mien  is  laid  down  in  the  map  of  the  East  Indies  by  Joseph  Enouy, 
published  by  Bowles  and  Carver,  in  1799,  as  a  province  two  or  three 
degrees  east-north-east  of  Umarapora,  or  Ava.  More,  on  the  conquest 
of  the  regions  between  the  Burrampooter  and  China,  may  be  seen  in 
Marco  Polo,  Ch.  XXXVII.  to  Ch.  XLIX.  Concerning  Mien,  see  the 
same  book,  note  864 ;  where  it  appears  that  Ava  is  meant. 


OF  BURMAH  AND  PEGU  IN  THE  SIXTEENTH 
CENTURY. 

The  king  of  Pegu  subjugated  the  kingdom  of  Verma,  or  Burmah; 
two  years  after,  he  conquered  Siam.  He,  by  his  lieutenant,  subdued 
many  other  countries. 

*  Modern  Universal  History,  Vol.  II.  p.  387. 
M  M2 


68  FIVE  KINGDOMS  LOST  FOR  A  WHITE  ELEPHANT. 

CHAP.        The  king's  palace  stands  at  the  farthest  end  of  new  Pegu.    He  has 
VII 

a  walled  park,  where  he  keeps  all  sorts  of  beasts,  never  regarding  the 
price ;  as  appears  by  the  long  war  with  the  king  of  Siam  for  the  white 
elephant,  to  dignify  his  calachar,  or  park.  It  was  the  Pegu  king 
Aleager,  who  began  this  cruel  war,  with  a  million  of  martial  men,  two 
hundred  thousand  horse,  five  thousand  elephants,  and  three  thousand 
camels.  He  sacked  and  ruined  Siam,  or  Lagi,  which  was  reputed 
twice  as  big  as  Paris.  The  siege  lasted  twenty-two  months.  He  took 
the  king's  treasure,  wife,  and  children;  and  brought  them  and  the 
white  elephant  to  Pegu,  sixty-five  days'  journey,  by  camels.  The  king 
of  Siam  cast  himself,  in  despair,  from  a  turret  of  his  own  palace.  Some 
of  his  daughters  made  away  with  themselves.  One  lady  was  saved, 
who  was  affianced  to  the  Grand  Mogul's  son,  who,  following  the  army 
to  recover  her,  was  taken  prisoner.  By  frequent  prayers  he  obtained 
leave  to  visit  her  and  his  future  mother  in  law.  They  were  now  mar- 
ried, and  conducted  to  the  confines  with  great  honour  and  magnifi- 
cence; whence  grew  the  greatness  of  the  Mogul,  tributary  to  the  king 
of  Pegu,  but  who  hath  since  broken  his  faith. 

This  fatal  white  elephant  hath  cost  five  kings  their  lives  and  estates. 
The  last  king  of  Pegu  had  it  taken  from  him  by  the  king  of  Aracan, 
through  the  treachery  of  the  king  of  Tangut,  his  brother-in-law.  The 
coach  of  the  king  of  Pegu  was  drawn  by  four  white  elephants.  I 
believe  that  in  all  the  East  there  were  not  more  to  be  found. 

At  every  corner  of  the  king's  palace,  stands  a  giant  of  polished  mar- 
ble; who,  Atlas  like,  upholds  this  goodly  fabric  ;  and  they  are  repre- 
sented with  such  tortions  of  face,  you  would  think  that  they  complain  of 
their  load.  You  enter  over  a  draw -bridge,  through  a  gate  of  excessive 
height  and  strength ;  where  are  the  figures  of  a  giant  and  his  wife,  of 
variegated  marble. 


CAMELOPARD.— WILD  BEASTS  DEVOUR  CRIMINALS.  26 

One  palace  is  allotted  to  the  queen  and  her  court,  (not  unlike  the  CHAP. 

VII 

Escurial),  which  joins  a  park,  stored  with  musk  animals,  giraffes;  ^-^.J^, 
and  stags,  called  Arsuiga,  which  are  like  those  in  Sweden,  and  are  used 
as  horses;  birds  of  paradise,  and  ostriches  of  prodigious  bigness.  There 
is  an  unicorn  called  Drougala,  and  the  head  of  another  with  the  horn 
in  the  middle  of  the  upper  part  of  the  forehead,  firmly  fixed  upon  the 
side  of  a  fountain.  There  is  a  park  for  lions,  tigers,  and  other  fierce 
beasts,  called  Siparo;  and  'tis  a  sad  and  daily  sight  to  see  criminals  de- 
voured by  them. 

In  1572,  there  was  a  church  founded  in  memory  of  a  miracle.  A 
poor  Christian  pilgrim  from  France,  who  had  curiosity  to  see  the  court 
of  that  great  monarch,  so  famous  throughout  the  Indies,  having  no 
money,  swam  across  the  river,  and  was  detected,  taken,  and  condemn- 
ed. He  was  exposed  to  the  lions,  next  to  the  elephants,  and  thirdly 
to  the  tigers,  but  none  of  the  beasts  would  touch  him:  he  was  then 
presented  to  the  king ;  who  inquired  who  he  was,  and  gave  him  a  pen- 
sion for  life. 

The  king  is  called  Quiber  Sencal  Jasel,  that  is,  grand  monarch  of 
elephants.  He  delights  to  see  them  monthly  exercised  in  battalions, 
marching  ten  abreast;  the  riders  in  cloth  of  gold  upon  a  green  ground, 
with  a  lance  and  a  lion's  skin.  With  the  captain  march  twelve  negro 
women,  with  drums;  their  faces  painted  red  and  violet,  clothed  in 
figured  gowns ;  dancing,  and  making  ridiculous  gesticulations  before 
the  elephants. 

When  they  go  to  war,  the  elephants  have  bars  of  steel  over  their 
trunks.  A  squadron  of  a  thousand  elephants  follows  the  captain; 
next  comes  the  king's  throne,  with  his  children,  high  and  exalted  like 
a  canopy,  drawn  by  those  famous  white  ones;  followed  by  many  no- 
bles, mounted  on  others,  with  silken  bridles;  all  accompanied  with 
trumpets,  flutes,  and  other  instruments:  at  which  sounds  the  elephants 


270  BURMAH.— PEGU.— SIAM. 

Cy^P  leap  and  dance,  and  shew  great  content ;  between  times,  they  march 
^-^-v-*^  with  a  gravity  becoming  a  rational  creature. 

Of  the  kingdom  of  Bremah,  or  Burmah,  the  city  royal  is  Pegu,  in 
which  place  began  the  greatness  of  the  late  kings;  these  Burmans 
inhabited  near  the  lake  Chiamay ;  among  whom  the  king  of  Pegu  had 
his  viceroys ;  one  whereof,  the  deputy  of  Tangut,  about  seventy  years 
since,  rebelled  against  him,  and  surprised  the  kingdoms  of  Prom,  Me- 
liatay,  Calam,  Baccam,  Mirandu,  and  Ava;  all  peopled  with  Burmans, 
extending  northwards  a  hundred  and  fifty  leagues. 

He  after  attempted  Siam,  with  an  army  of  three  hundred  thousand 
men ;  and  spent  three  months  in  making  way  through  the  huge  woods 
and  inaccessible  places;  but  achieved  not  his  purpose. 

After  his  return,  he  assailed  Pegu,  and  conquered  it ;  and  then  re- 
turned the  second  time,  in  1567.  He  subjected  to  his  seigniory,  twelve 
kingdoms;  which  Fernandes  thus  rehearseth:  the  kingdom  of  Cau- 
clan,  where  are  the  best  rubies  and  sapphires.  Secondly,  that  of  Ava, 
the  bowels  whereof  are  filled  with  mines  of  copper,  lead,  and  silver. 
The  third,  Bacan,  enriched  with  mines  of  gold.  Tungran,  the  fourth, 
abounded  with  lac  and  lead.  Such  is  Prom,  the  fifth.  The  sixth,  is 
langoma,  stored  with  copper,  musk,  pepper,  silk,  silver,  and  gold. 
Lauran,  the  seventh,  had  Beioim  enough  to  lade  ships.  The  eighth  and 
ninth,  are  the  kingdoms  of  Trucan,  staples  of  China  merchandise.  The 
tenth  and  eleventh,  are  the  Diadems  of  Cublan,  between  Ava  and 
China,  powdered  with  precious  stones.  Siam,  whence  we  came  last, 
is  the  last  of  the  twelve ;  in  the  invasion  whereof  he  armed  a  million 
and  three  score  thousand  men:  which  number  is  short  of  Frederick's 
reckoning,  except  we  ascribe  that  surplusage  to  victuallers,  volunta- 
ries, servants,  and  attendants  on  the  baggage ;  which  army,  saith  Fer- 
nandes,  he  tithed  out  of  his  people. 

_  He  so  abounded  with  wealth,  that  a  hundred  ships,  freighted  with 


MOST  DREADFUL  FAMINE.  271 

rice,  seemed  to  diminish  nothing  of  the  plenty.  The  fields  are  said  to  CHAP, 
yield  three  harvests  in  the  year;  and  of  gems,  the  store  is  beyond  es  v^-y-^ 
timation,  and  also  maketh  them,  there,  short  of  the  estimation  of  gems. 
But  this  wealth,  then  wanting  no  store,  had,  when  Fernandes  wrote 
this,  in  1598,  a  contrary  vicissitude — of  no  store;  hut  want  even  of 
those  things  which  nature  exacteth  as  necessary  props  of  life.  Scarce- 
ly, of  so  many,  were  left  seven  thousand  persons,  men,  women, 
and  children,  to  participate  the  king's  imprisonment  or  siege  in  his 
tower;  and  those  feeding  on  man's  flesh:  the  parents  requiring  of 
the  children  that  life,  which  before  they  had  given,  to  sustain  their 

own ;  and  now  laid  them,  not  in  their  bosoms,  but  in  their  bowels  

The  children  became  living  sepulchres  of  their  scarce  dead  parents. 
The  strongest  preyed  upon  the  weaker;  and,  if  their  flesh  was  con- 
sumed before  by  their  own  hunger,  leaving  nothing  but  skin  and  bones 
to  the  hungry  assault  of  these  raveners,  they  ripped  the  belly  and  de- 
voured their  inward  parts ;  and,  breaking  the  skull,  sucked  out  the 
brains  raw.  Yea,  the  weaker  sex  was,  by  the  strength  of  famine, 
armed  with  no  less  butcherly  despight  against  whomsoever  they  could 
meet  in  the  streets  of  the  city,  with  their  knives,  which  they  carried 
about  them  as  harbingers  to  their  teeth,  in  those  inhospitable  inhuman 
human  banquets. 

Thus  did  the  besieged  suffer ;  while  the  king  endured  in  his  tower 
no  small  part  of  like  misery,  besides  the  indignity  so  to  be,  by  his  own 
vassals,  straitened  and  afterwards  slaughtered.  But  such  is  the  just 
hand  of  the  King  of  kings,  who  regardeth  not  persons;  but,  as  he 
sheweth  mercy  to  the  merciful,  so  doth  he  reserve  vengeance  for  cru- 
elty and  tyranny.  Pardon  me,  reader,  if  in  this  spectacle  I  cause 
thee,  with  myself,  to  stay  awhile  and  wonder.  The  Sun,  in  his  daily 
journey  round  about  this  vast  globe,  saw  few  equal  (that  I  say  no 
more)  to  this  Peguan  greatness ;  and  yet,  in  a  small  space,  He  that 


272  SIX  HUNDRED  ELEPHANTS  LADEN  WITH  GOLD. 

CHAP,  is  higher  than  the  highest,  hath  abated  and  abased  this  magnificence 
^v^1  lower  than  the  lowest  of  his  princes  *. 

After  the  death  of  the  Burman  conqueror,  his  son,  finding  the  king 
of  Ava,  his  tributary  and  uncle,  was  plotting  a  conspiracy,  seized 
forty  Avan  noblemen;  had  them  conducted  into  a  wood,  which  was 
set  fire  to;  and  those  who  escaped  the  flames  were  killed  by  the 
sword.  The  two  kings  agreed  to  try  their  fate  by  single  combat  upon 
elephants ;  and  the  king  of  Pegu  obtained  the  conquest. 

Andreas  Boues,  March  28,  1600,  relates,  that  the  king  of  Pegu  was 
besieged  by  the  kings  of  Aracan  and  Tangut ;  that  he  surrendered 
himself,  his  queen,  and  prince,  to  the  latter;  who,  treacherously  be- 
heading them,  hastened  to  the  tower  of  Pegu,  where  he  found  as  much 
gold  and  jewels  as  laded  six  hundred  elephants  and  as  many  horses, 
besides  silver.  The  king  of  Aracan,  incensed  at  this  conduct,  with 
the  assistance  of  the  Portuguese,  among  whom  this  jesuit  was  one, 
invaded  Pegu,  seized  three  millions  of  silver,  and  all  the  artillery ;  and 
remained  lord  of  Pegu.  The  king  hath  four  white  elephants;  and  if 
any  other  hath  any,  he  will  seek  them  by  favor  or  force.  They  are 
fed  in  vessels  of  silver  gilt.  One  of  them,  when  he  goes  to  the  river, 
passes  under  a  canopy  of  cloth  of  gold,  or  silk,  carried  by  six  or  eight 
men ;  as  many  going  before,  playing  on  drums  or  other  instruments. 
On  his  coming  out  of  the  river  a  gentleman  washes  his  feet  in  a  silver 
bason.  There  were  black  elephants  nine  cubits  high.  The  king  is 
said  to  have  about  five  thousand  elephants  of  war.  When  Mr.  Fitch 
was  at  Pegu,  the  king  had  one  wife,  three  hundred  concubines :  and 
he  was  said  to  have  ninety  children.  The  king  sat  in  judgment  almost 
every  dayf. 

*  This  punning  but  interesting  narrative  is  from  Purchas,  rector  of  St.  Martin's 
Ludgate,  chaplain  to  Abbot,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  contemporary  with 
Shakespear  and  Milton,  who  were  both  punsters. 

f  Purchas,  Vol.  I.  p.  458  to  468,  and  Vincent  Le  Blanc,  Ch.  XXVI.  and  XXVII. 


CITY  OF  PEGU  BRASS  ORDNANCE.  273 

The  town  of  Pegu  is  square  and  very  large,  having  five  gates  at  each  CHAP, 
side  of  the  square ;  and  a  deep  trench  in  which  there  are  many  croco-  O^-^-w' 
diles.  The  walls  are  of  wood:  the  watch  towers  are  richly  gilt. 
When  in  the  heart  of  the  town,  you  discover  all  the  streets ;  which  is  a 
gallant  curiosity.  The  king's  guard  consists  of  thirty  thousand  horse, 
Turks,  Persians,  or  Arabians ;  for  there  is  a  law,  that  he  who  brings 
twenty  horses  for  sale,  shall  pay  no  duty  on  his  other  merchandize; 
they  are  therefore  brought  in  abundance. 

The  soldiers  exercise  much  at  a  mark,  and  are  very  expert.  The 
king  has  about  five  thousand  elephants.  Merchants  follow  the  armies 
upon  oxen.  The  country  is  rich  in  gold,  silver,  rubies,  sapphires, 
garnets,  &c.  and  his  magazine  may  pass  for  the  treasury  of  the  East. 
There  is  a  statue  of  a  tall  man  of  beaten  gold,  wearing  a  golden  crown, 
enriched  with  rubies  of  inestimable  value;  and  round  it,  four  statues 
of  youths,  all  of  gold.  In  one  part  they  make  coaches,  litters,  saddles; 
and  harness  for  elephants,  covered  with  gold  and  silver.  I  saw  a  rich 
saddle  and  furniture  for  an  elephant,  bought  for  the  king.  They  use 
arquebusses  and  other  guns,  which  are  far  better  than  ours ;  better  iron, 
better  tempered,  and  better  wrought.  The  king  had  three  thousand 
pieces  of  ordnance;  one  thousand  of  them  were  of  brass*. 

*        *        *  * 

When  the  king  of  Siam  goes  to  court,  he  has  a  train  of  two  hundred 
elephants,  among  which  one  is  white.  If  any  favorite  elephant  falls 
sick  and  dies,  he  is,  with  funeral  pomp,  burned  to  ashes  with  reeds, 
and  the  weight  of  his  body  of  sweet  wood;  but,  if  he  be  an  offender, 
he  is  not  burnt  but  buried.  The  monarch  stiles  himself  King  of  Hea- 
ven and  Earth  f. 

*  Vincent  Le  Blanc,  P.  I.  Ch.  XXVI.    f  Tavernier,  P.  II.  B.  III.  Ch.  XVIII. 

N  N 


274  QUEEN  ELIZABETH'S  LETTER. 

'  VlV  *own  °^  Siam  stands  upon  the  large  river  Mecan,  which  springs 

w-v-**^'  from  the  famous  lake  Chiamay ;  Siam  has  a  stately  wall,  and  contains 
thirty  thousand  houses,  with  a  castle  strongly  fortified,  built  upon  the 
water,  like  Penivitan  and  Venice.  The  country  breeds  elephants,  rhi- 
noceroses, giraffes,  tigers,  lions,  leopards;  the  fairest  ermines,  camels, 
dromedaries,  and  some  say  unicorns;  which,  being  very  timorous 
beasts,  seldom  appear  in  sight*. 


SUMATRA. 

"  Our  English  first  had  trade  at  Sumatra  in  the  last  years  of  queen 
Elizabeth,  whose  name  was  then  famous,  for  her  exploits  against  the 
Spaniards.  The  queen's  letter  directed  to  the  king,  Sultan  Aladin, 
was  received  with  great  state.  First,  he  entertained  the  messenger 
with  a  banquet ;  gave  him  a  robe  and  a  piece  of  calico  wrought  with 
gold;  and  offered  pledges  for  the  general's  safety,  for  whom  he  sent 
six  elephants,  with  drums,  trumpets,  streamers,  and  many  people. 
The  greatest  elephant,  being  thirteen  or  fourteen  feet  high,  had  a 
small  castle  like  a  coach,  covered  with  velvet,  on  his  back;  in  which 
was  placed  a  great  golden  bason,  with  a  rich  covering  of  silk,  where- 
in the  letter  was  laid.  The  general  was  mounted  on  another  ele- 
phant; but  staid  at  the  court  gate,  till  the  king's  pleasure  and  li- 
cence was  again  sent. 

The  king  gave  him  a  feast ;  the  dishes  were  of  gold  or  tambaycke, 
which  is  gold  and  brass  mixed.  Their  wine  is  of  rice,  as  strong  as 
aqua  vitae:  the  king  drank  to  the  general  out  of  his  gallery,  a  fathom 

*  Vide  Le  Blanc,  p.  105.  We  are  always  tantalized  with  the  hope  of  finding- 
one  of  these  animals.  An  Unicorn  is  reported  to  have  been  seen  by  a  British 
officer,  in  the  thick  woods  near  Aracan,  in  July,  1825. 


A  COCK  FIGHTING  MONARCH. 


275 


higher  than  where  they  sat.  After  the  feast,  there  were  music  Cyj^R 
and  dancing  by  the  king's  damsels ;  which  was  a  great  favor,  as  they  v-s— y-*»- 
are  not  commonly  seen. 

The  chief  prelate  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  for  arti- 
cles of  league,  which  were  concluded. 

They  took  a  prize  of  nine  hundred  tons,  and  were  like  to  be  taken 
themselves  by  a  strange  water  spout,  which  fell  not  far  from  them,  as 
in  one  whole  drop,  enough  to  have  sunk  any  ship. 

The  king  sent  a  letter  and  presents  to  the  queen :  and,  at  their  de- 
parture, asked  if  they  had  the  psalms  of  David,  and  caused  them  to 
sing  one;  which  he  and  his  nobles  seconded  with  a  psalm  (as  he  said) 
for  their  prosperity. 

The  court  hath  three  guards,  between  each  of  which  there  is  a 
great  green.  The  walls  of  the  house  are  hung  sometimes  with  cloth 
of  gold,  velvet,  or  damask.  The  king  sits  cross-legged,  with  four  cris- 
ses,  two  before,  and  two  behind,  very  rich.  Forty  women  attend  him 
with  fans,  clothes,  singing,  and  other  offices.  He  eateth  and  drinketh 
all  day ;  or  is  chewing  betel  and  areca,  talking  of  venery  and  cock- 
fighting. 

This  king  had  a  hundred  gallies,  of  which  some  will  carry  four  hun- 
dred men ;  they  are  without  decks ;  their  oars  are  like  shovels,  four  feet 
long,  and  are  managed  with  one  hand. 

A  woman  was  admiral,  he  not  daring,  through  self-guiltiness,to  trust 
men.  They  have  a  tradition  that  Acheen  is  Ophir  *."  "  The  king  of 
Acheen  places  his  strength  in  nine  hundred  elephants.  1  have  seen 
three  hundred  at  a  time  in  the  court  of  the  palace  f." 


*  Sir  James  Lancaster.    Purchas,  Vol.  I.  548. 

f  Commodore  Beaulieu.    Harris's  Voy.  Vol.  I.  745. 


NN  2 


278 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Hindostan.  Heroism  of  the  Indian  Ladies.  Court  Pa- 
rades of  the  Emperors  Akbar,  Jehanghir,  and  Aurnngzeb.  

Combats  of  Elephants  with  Horses;  of  English  Mastiffs  with 
Elephants;  of  Crocodiles  with  Horses. 

chap.    Hindostan  being  the  country  which  has  furnished  the  Greeks, 
VIII 

Romans,  and  Persians,  with  elephants,  from  the  earliest  times,  a  few 
interesting  extracts  have  been  selected,  to  shew  the  numbers  of  those 
animals  with  which  that  country  abounds;  and  also  for  the  purpose, 
in  later  times,  of  exhibiting  the  customs  of  the  Moguls,  who  are  de- 
scendants of  Genghis  Khan  and  Tamerlane. 

In  the  ninth  century  of  the  Christian  era,  two  Arabians  visited  In- 
dia. "  The  king  of  Tafek, "  say  they,  "  has  the  finest  white  women 
in  all  India.  He  is  awed  by  the  kings  about  him,  his  army  being 
small,  and  bordering  on  the  lands  of  a  king  called  Rami,  who  is  at  war 
with  the  king  of  Haraz,  and  with  the  Balhara  also.  They  say,  that 
Rami's  forces  are  very  numerous ;  and  that  he  takes  the  field  with  ten 
or  fifteen  thousand  tents,  and  appears  at  the  head  of  fifty  thousand 
elephants*. 

*  The  Balhara  reigned  at  Kanoge,  the  capital  of  Porus  :  and  which,  in  the  sixth 
century,  contained  thirty  thousand  shops  for  the  sale  of  Betel-nut.  See  Rennel's 
Memoir,  p.  54.  Abul  Gliazi,  Vol.  II.  p.  754;  and  Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  I.  p.  525. 


THREE  HUNDRED  ELEPHANTS  INTOXICATED. 

*  *  *  * 

Mamood,  Emperor  of  Ghizni,  in  his  eleventh  expedition,  marched 
again  by  the  way  of  Lahore,  in  the  year  1023,  against  Nunda,  the 
prince  of  Callinger,  with  a  great  army.  Passing  by  the  fort  of  Gua- 
lior,  he  ordered  it  to  be  besieged ;  but  the  prince  of  the  province  pre- 
vailed on  him  to  remove  from  before  that  place,  in  a  few  days,-  by 
means  of  rich  presents  and  thirty -five  elephants.  Mamood,  immedi- 
ately directed  his  march  to  Callinger,  invested  that  city,  and  Nunda 
offered  him  three  hundred  elephants  and  other  presents  for  peace ; 
which  terms  were  agreed  to.  The  Raja,  to  try  the  bravery  of  the  sul- 
tan's troops,  intoxicated  the  elephants  with  certain  drugs,  and  let  them 
loose  without  riders  into  the  camp.  Mamood,  seing  the  animals  ad- 
vancing, perceived  the  trick  by  the  wildness  of  their  motions,  and  im- 
mediately ordered  a  party  of  his  best  horse,  to  seize,  kill,  and  drive 
them  from  the  camp.  Some  of  the  Turks,  emulous  to  display  their 
bravery  in  the  presence  of  their  king,  and  of  both  armies,  mounted 
the  greatest  part  of  the  elephants,  and  drove  the  rest  into  an  adjacent 
wood,  where  they  were  soon  reduced  to  obedience  f. 

English  travellers  mention  immense  numbers.  Win.  Clarke,  who 
served  the  Mogul  many  years,  saith,  that  he  hath  seen  in  one  army 
twenty  thousand  elephants,  whereof  four  thousand  were  for  war,  the 
rest  females  for  burthen,  young,  &c.    (Purchas,  (B)  Vol.  I.  p.  640.) 

"  The  king  keepeth  thirty  thousand  elephants  in  his  whole  kingdom ; 


277 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


f  Dow's  Hindostan,  Vol.  I.  p.  64. 


278  AN  AFFECTIONATE  WHITE  ELEPHANT. 

CHAP,    some  thirteen  feet  and  a  half  high."    (T.  Coryate  from  Asmeer,  Pur- 

VTTf 

vJ™!^,  chas,  II.  592.) 

Jehanghir  hath  twenty  thousand  camels,  four  thousand  ounces  for 
game,  one  hundred  tame  lions,  four  thousand  hawks,  twelve  thousand 
elephants,  five  thousand  of  which  with  teeth.  Of  his  and  his  nobles, 
there  are  thought  to  be  forty  thousand  elephants  in  his  empire." 
(Captain  Hawkins.    Purchas,  I.  545.  (B)  VoL  I.  p.  594.) 

*  *     •    *  * 

Cuttub  presented  the  king  with  above  three  hundred  elephants,  tak- 
en from  the  Raja  of  Benares;  the  riders  had  a  signal  given  to  them  to 
make  all  the  elephants  at  once  fall  upon  their  knees  to  the  king ;  which 
they  did,  except  a  favorite  white  one.  This  animal  was  considered  in- 
estimable; and,  though  extremely  tractable,  he,  on  this  occasion,  had 
nearly  killed  his  rider,  when  he  endeavoured  to  force  him  to  pay  his 
obedience.  The  king,  on  setting  out  for  Ghizni,  sent  the  white  ele- 
phant in  a  present  to  Cuttub,  who  rode  it  ever  after,  till  his  death; 
when  the  affectionate  animal,  with  visible  sorrow,  pined  and  expired 
the  third  day  after  f . 

*  *        *  * 

Sultan  Baber  took  the  route  of  Lahore,  and,  on  the  way,  hunted  rhi- 
noceroses, with  which  that  country  abounded ;  many  were  killed,  and 
some  taken  in  toils.  This  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  put  the  personal 
bravery  of  the  chiefs  to  trial  J. 


f  Dow's  Hindostan,  A.  D.  1205. 


t  Bow,  A.  D.  1525. 


A  WARLIKE  HINDOO  QUEEN.  279 

Asaph,  having  heard  of  the  riches  of  the  kingdom  of  Gurrah,  at  that  CHAP, 
time  governed  by  a  queen  named  Durgetti,  marched  against  it.  The  y-^_> 
queen,  with  fifteen  hundred  elephants,  &c.  prepared  to  meet  him. 
Like  a  bold  heroine,  she  led  on  her  troops  to  action,  clothed  in  armour, 
with  a  helmet  upon  her  head,  mounted  in  a  castle  upon  an  elephant,  a 
bow  and  quiver  by  her  side.  The  brave  queen  received  an  arrow  in 
her  eye  and  one  in  her  neck,  which  she  pulled  out;  but,  finding 
the  enemy  crowding  fast  around  her,  and  her  son  being  mortally 
wounded,  she  plunged  a  dagger  into  her  bosom,  and  expired  f. 

#  *         #  * 

"  There  was,  as  is  said,  formerly  a  Moor  king,  who,  leading  a  volup- 
tuous and  idle  life,  by  his  captains  was  dispossessed  of  his  estate. 
One  of  these  was  called  Idalcan,  whose  royal  seat  is  Visiapore.  In 
the  year  1572,  he  encamped  before  Goa,  which  the  Portuguese  had 
taken  from  him,  with  an  army  of  seventy  thousand  foot,  thirty-five 
thousand  horse,  two  thousand  elephants,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pieces  of  artillery  J." 

*  *        *  * 

In  the  year  1582,  the  Emperor  Akbarled  an  army  to  Cabul,  against 
his  brother  Hakim,  who  had  rebelled ;  he  was  accompanied  by  a  vast 
number  of  armed  elephants.  They  wear  plates  of  iron  upon  their 
foreheads,  carry  four  archers,  or  else  four  gunners  with  great  pieces. 
They  go  not  in  front  of  the  army,  lest,  being  hurt,  they  should  disturb 
the  ranks,  and  therefore  are  set  in  the  rear :  a  sword  is  bound  to  their 
trunk,  and  daggers  are  fastened  to  their  tusks.  One  of  the  guns,  in  the 
first  advance,  by  accident,  killed  three  of  the  chiefs  who  stood  by  Ha- 
f  Dow,  A.  D.  1564.  i  Pnrchas,  Vol.  I,  p.  485. 


280  LADIES,  PATRONESSES  OF  WARRIORS. 

CilAP.    kim,  who  immediately  left  the  field,  and  was  pursued  with  great  slaugh- 
>s««*^v^»»^  ter-    The  Emperor  entered  Cabul,  and  Hakim  fled  to  Ghorebund :  he 
from  thence  sent  an  embassy  to  the  Emperor,  begging  forgiveness, 
which  was  granted  him  f . 


"  The  town  of  Bisnegur,  or  Chandegy,  is  eight  leagues  in  circuit,  and 
so  powerful,  that  it  supplies  the  prince  with  a  hundred  thousand  horse, 
Narsingue,  the  capital  of  the  country,  is  built  in  a  stately  stile,  and  is 
about  the  compass  of  Florence.  The  laws  are  so  well  observed,  that 
none  breaks  them,  for  fear  of  punishment.  The  citizens  are  obliged  to 
serve  their  king  on  pain  of  death,  or  amputation  of  hands  and  feet. 

To  keep  his  army  more  full,  he  entertains  the  finest  women  in  the 
world,  most  gallantly  dressed.  Many  lords  and  princes,  from  other 
parts,  flock  hither  to  fight  under  Mars  and  Venus:  but  are  not  admitted 
to  the  ladies  till  they  have  shewn  some  trophy  of  their  valour. 

They  load  their  elephants  and  horses  with  iron  and  steel  hoops,  three 
fingers  broad,  keen  as  razors,  and  dart  them  dexterously,  and  swift  a 
arrows:  they  poison  them;  and  the  large  wounds  they  make  are  mor- 
tal. They  have  swords,  bucklers,  javelins,  bows,  cross-bows,  and  some 
fire-pikes.  The  king  of  Ternassery  J  is  continually  at  war  with  the 
king  of  Narsingue :  he  is  a  gentile,  and  hath  above  a  thousand  elephants 
trained  to  war,  and  of  the  largest  size  of  the  East,  covered  to  the 
ground  with  beeves'  hides ;  and,  over  them,  with  divers  trappings. 
Those  hides  are  fastened  underneath  the  belly  with  iron  chains,  and 
are  difficult  to  be  got  off.  Four  men  may  easily  fight  upon  each  ele- 
phant, with  broad  bucklers  made  of  tortoise-shell.    He  who  guides 


t  Dow,  Vol.11,  p.  278.  Purchas,  Vol,  I.  (B)  p.  584. 


t  See  Le  Blanc,  p.  80. 


ELEPHANT  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  AKBAR. 

the  beast  is  the  best  armed  of  the  five,  being  most  exposed  to  the  ene- 
my. Their  darts  have  three  sharp  points  or  heads,  with  a  ball  of  iron 
in  the  middle,  which  serves  for  counterpoise.  They  are  a  warlike, 
courteous,  voluptuous  nation,  and  have  fair  women,  whom  they  treat 
in  gardens  full  of  rare  fruits.  They  delight  in  perfumes,  chiefly  musk; 
I  quartered  at  a  Jew's,  who  had  a  great  quantity  f. 

*        *        *  * 

"  The  muster  of  elephants  precedes  all  others.  Every  day  a  khaseh 
elephant,  with  his  housings  and  trappings,  is  brought  to  the  front  of 
the  palace :  and  on  the  first  day  of  every  Persian  month,  ten  elephants 
are  brought;  and  on  every  succeeding  day,  ten  hulkahs  of  ten  each. 
On  Mondays,  ten  hulkahs  of  twenty  each,  are  brought  to  be  muster- 
ed f. 

There  are  always  set  apart  for  his  Majesty's  (Akbar)  riding,  one 
hundred  and  one  elephants.  The  daily  allowance  of  food  is  in  weight 
two  hundred  pounds,  the  same  as  for  the  others,  but  differs  in  quality. 
Most  of  these  have,  moreover,  five  seers  (ten  pounds)  of  sugar,  four 
seers  of  ghee,  and  half  a  maund  (about  forty  pounds)  of  rice,  with 
round  and  long  pepper,  &c.  and  some  have  a  maund  and  half  of  milk 
mixed  up  with  their  rice.  In  the  sugar-cane  season,  each  elephant 
has  daily  three  hundred  canes,  more  or  less,  for  the  space  of  two 
months.  His  Majesty  rides  every  kind  of  khaseh  elephant,  making 
them  obedient  to  his  command ;  and  frequently  in  the  rutting  season 
he  puts  his  feet  upon  the  tusks  of  the  elephant  and  mounts  him;  to 
the  astonishment  of  those  who  are  used  to  these  animals.  Magnifi- 

f  Travels  of  Vincent  Le  Blanc,  p.  81.    The  Visiapore  ladies  were  celebrated  for 
their  extraordinary  beauty.    See  Montesquieu,  Persian  Letter,  XC VI. 
X  Ayeen  Akbery,  Vol.  I.  p.  167. 

oo 


281 


282  TRAVELLING  CARRIAGE  DRAWN  BY  AN  ELEPHANT. 

CHAP,  cent  amarees  are  put  upon  the  backs  of  swift  paced  elephants,  and 
^-p-v-^y  which  serve  for  places  of  repose  on  journies.  An  elephant  so  capa- 
risoned is  always  ready  at  the  palace  *. 

When  his  Majesty  goes  on  a  journey,  he  takes  with  him  a  carriage 
of  his  own  contrivance,  of  such  a  magnitude  as  to  contain  several 
apartments,  with  a  hot  bath:  and  it  is  drawn  by  a  single  elephant. 
This  moveable  bath  is  extremely  useful,  and  very  refreshing  on  a  jour- 
ney.   Other  carriages  are  drawn  by  camels,  horses  and  oxen  f . 

The  Emperor  Akbar  built  an  amphitheatre  at  Agra,  for  elephant 
fights  |. 

On  the  return  from  Cashmere,  in  1597,  many  elephants  died  of 
fatigue  and  famine ;  they  sometimes  leaned  on  their  trunk  as  a  staff  to 
enable  them  to  support  their  loads.  The  prince  was  assaulted  by  a 
lioness,  which  he  wounded  with  a  dart,  then  with  a  shot ;  a  soldier 
came  on  and  slew  her,  but  with  the  loss  of  his  own  life.  The  prince 
was  upon  a  female  elephant. 

The  next  year  Akbar  went  to  Agra;  he  had  eight  hundred  elephants, 
and  seven  thousand  camels,  to  carry  his  tents  and  provisions ;  yea,  his 
secretary  was  at  the  same  time  provided  with  seven  hundred  camels,  and 
seventy  elephants,  for  his  own  use.  The  king  conducted  in  this  expe- 
dition above  one  thousand  elephants  instructed  for  fighting.  Brampore 
fell  into  his  hands.  Miram,  the  king,  had  fled  to  Syra,  where  he 
had  three  thousand  pieces  of  ordnance;  the  governor,  and  seven  other 
commanders,  were  all  renegado  Mahomedans.  Akbar  had  two  hun- 
dred thousand  men,  but  prevailed  more  with  bribes ;  and  Syra  fell  §. 

On  Tuesday,  the  Emperor  sits  in  judgment,  and  hears  both  parties 
with  patience.  He  sometimes  sees,  with  too  much  delight  in  blood, 
the  executions  done  by  his  elephants. 

*  Ayeen  Akbery,  Vol.  I.  pp.  127,  128.    f  ^id.  p.  225.     %  Ibid.  Vol.  II.  p.  37. 
§  Purchas,  (B)Vol.I.  p.  588. 


SPLENDID  ELEPHANTS.— ENGLISH  COACH.  283 

"  The  Emperor  Jehanghir  was  so  rich  in  jewels,  that  I  never  saw  such  CHAP, 
inestimable  wealth.  His  greatest  elephants  were  brought  before  him,  ^^-^-O 
some  of  which  being  lord  elephants,  had  their  chains,  bells,  and  furni- 
ture of  gold  and  silver,  attended  with  gilt  banners  and  flags;  and  eight 
or  ten  elephants  waiting  on  him,  clothed  in  gold,  silk,  and  silver.  Thus 
passed  about  twelve  companies,  most  richly  furnished ;  the  first  having 
all  the  plates  on  his  head  and  breast  set  with  rubies  and  emeralds,  be- 
ing a  beast  of  a  wonderful  stature  and  beauty.  They  all  bowed  down 
before  the  king;  who,  with  some  gracious  compliment  to  me,  rose  and 
went  in."    *    *  * 

The  king  at  noon  sat  out  at  the  Durbar,  where  the  prince  brought 
his  elephants,  about  six  hundred,  rich  in  trappings  and  furniture ;  and 
likewise  ten  thousand  horse,  with  heron  top  feathers  in  their  turbans, 
all  in  gallantry;  himself  in  cloth  of  silver  embroidered  with  great 
pearls,  and  shining  with  diamonds  like  a  firmament.  The  king  em- 
braced him  with  much  affection,  and  gave  him  a  sword  and  dagger  of 
gold  set  with  precious  stones,  valued  at  one  hundred  and  forty  thou- 
sand rupias;  an  elephant  and  two  horses,  with  all  the  furniture  of  gold 
and  precious  stones;  and  one  of  the  new  coaches  made  in  imitation  of 
that  sent  by  my  master.  He  commanded  the  English  coachman  to 
drive  him  to  his  tents ;  he  sat  in  the  middle,  the  sides  open ;  his  chief- 
est  nobles  on  foot  walking  by  him,  about  four  miles.  All  the  way  he 
threw  quarter  rupias,  being  followed  by  a  multitude;  and,  reaching 
his  hand  to  the  coachman,  he  put  into  his  hat  a  number  of  rupias  f . 

*        *        *  * 

"  Next  followed  the  English  coach,  now  covered  and  richly  trim- 
med; which  the  Emperor  had  given  to  the  queen  Normahall,  who 


t  Sir  Thomas  Rowe.    Purchas,  Vol.  II.  pp.  542,  550,  558. 
o  o  2 


284  BATTLES  OF  ELEPHANTS. — HORSES. — CROCODILES. 

CHAP,  rode  in  it.  After,  followed  twenty  royal  elephants  for  his  own  ascend- 
\«e^v-"*»-^  ing,  so  rich,  that,  in  precious  stones  and  furniture,  they  braved  the  Sun. 

His  wives,  on  their  elephants,  were  carried  like  parakitoes,  half  a  mile 
behind  him.  When  the  king  came  to  the  door  where  his  eldest  son  was 
a  prisoner,  he  called  for  him;  he  came  and  made  reverence;  his  sword 
and  buckler  in  his  hand,  and  his  beard  grown  to  his  middle ;  a  sign  of 
disfavor.  The  king  commanded  him  to  ascend  one  of  the  spare  ele- 
phants, and  so  rode  next  him,  to  the  extreme  applause  and  joy  of 
all  men.  The  king  gave  him  a  thousand  rupias  to  cast  to  the  peo- 
ple f. 

The  great  general  Khan  Cannawe  liveth  at  Brampore.  On  the  12th 
October,  1609,  he  returned  from  the  wars,  with  one  thousand  five 
hundred  elephants,  ten  thousand  camels,  three  thousand  dromedaries, 
&c.  This  city  is  far  bigger  than  London.  Hence  we  travelled  to- 
wards Agra,  and  met  with  store  of  wild  elephants,  lions,  and  tigers. 
*  *  *  The  elephants  that  fight  before  the  Mogul,  are  parted  with 
rockets  of  wild-fire,  made  round  like  hoops,  which  are  pushed  in  their 
faces.  Some  fight  with  wild  horses,  six  horses  to  an  elephant;  which 
he  kills  by  clasping  his  trunk  about  their  necks;  and,  pulling  them 
to  him,  breaks  their  necks  with  his  tusks.  Condemned  persons  may 
crave  the  combat  with  the  lion.  One  was  seen,  who  at  the  first  encoun- 
ter felled  the  lion  with  his  fist ;  but  was  soon  torn  in  pieces  before  the 
king.  Master  Fitch  and  Captain  Hawkins  saw  also  crocodiles  kept 
in  ponds  for  like  purpose,  one  of  which  killed  two  horses  at  a  time  J. 

*        *        *  * 

An  English  mastiff  §  seized  an  elephant  by  the  trunk,  and  kept  his 
f  Sir  T.  Rowe,  A.  D.  1615.    Purchas,  Vol.  II.  559. 

t  Purchas,  (B)  Vol.  I.  p.  601.  §  These  were  probably  bull-dogs. 


AN  ENGLISH  DOG  FIGHTS  AN  ELEPHANT.  285 

hold  so  fast,  that  the  elephant,  having  tossed  him  in  the  air  for  some  CHAP. 

VIII. 

time,  at  last  swung  him  off;  but  did  not  care  to  come  near  him  a  w-v*^/ 
second  time.    This  being  told  to  the  Mogul,  enhanced  the  reputation 
of  the  English  dogs:  they  were  carried  about  in  palankines  along  with 
his  Majesty,  and  he  fed  them  himself  with  a  pair  of  silver  tongs  made 
for  that  purposef . 

*  *        *  * 

The  daily  diversions  of  the  Mogul,  except  on  Fridays,  were,  to  see 
the  lions,  leopards,  tigers,  and  elephants  fight  with  one  another.  *  *  # 

The  city  of  Amedabat  is  obliged  to  maintain  fifty  elephants.  The 
governor's  daughter  was  married  to  the  Mogul's  second  son.  Her  fa- 
ther sent  her,  with  an  equipage  of  twenty  elephants,  and  six  thousand 
waggons  laden  with  riches.  The  governor  kept  fifty  elephants  for  his 
own  use.  The  Mogul  never  stirs  abroad  without  a  guard  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  men ;  at  the  head  of  which  march  one  hundred  ele- 
phants, covered  with  scarlet  velvet  and  brocades.  I  arrived  in  Eng- 
land in  1639.  Lord  Strafford  did  me  the  honor  to  introduce  me  to  his 
Majesty  to  kiss  his  hand,  and  afterwards  to  the  Queen ;  both  their 
Majesties  being  pleased  to  bestow  some  time  to  hear  the  relation  of 
my  travels,  especially  in  Muscovy  and  Persia  J. 

#  *        *  * 

Aurungzeb  was  twenty  days  before  Daman,  and  resolved  on  storm- 
ing it  on  a  Sunday,  believing  that  Christians  would  not  defend  it  on 
that  day.    The  place  was  commanded  by  an  old  soldier,  who  had 


t  Barclay,  Universal  Traveller,  p.  498.         t  Albert  de  Mandelsloe's  Travels. 


286  RHINOCEROSES  LED  ABOUT  ON  JOURNIES  FOR  PARADE. 

CHAP,  served  in  France,  and  had  three  sons  with  him;  and  there  were  eight 
VIII 

hundred  gentlemen,  and  other  stout  soldiers. 

Aurungzeb  had  forty  thousand  men.  The  governor  made  a  sally 
after  midnight  with  all  his  cavalry,  and  part  of  his  infantry.  He  at- 
tacked the  quarter  that  was  guarded  by  two  hundred  elephants,  among 
which,  in  the  dark,  they  flung  a  great  number  of  fire-works,  which  so 
affrighted  them,  that  they  turned  upon  the  besiegers  with  such  fury, 
that,  in  two  or  three  hours,  half  of  Aurungzeb's  army  was  cut  in 
pieces;  on  which  he  raised  the  siege;  nor  would  he  after  that  have 
any  thing  more  to  do  with  the  Christians  f. 

*        *        *  *■ 

After  the  court  elephants  were  paraded,  combats  were  given  of  rhi- 
noceroses, buffaloes,  lions,  tigers,  nilgaus,  gazelles,  leopards  to  hunt 
the  gazelles,  &c. 

*       *        *  * 

Four  hundred  camels  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  elephants  carry 
the  tents;  there  are  also  tents  for  the  best  elephants,  and  other  ani- 
mals that  are  always  carried for  sports  and  magnificence,  and  also  for 
lions,  rhinoceroses,  and  other  animals,  led  for  parade.  We  had  above 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  animals,  horses,  camels,  and  elephants, 
on  this  expedition  to  Cashmere. 

Roshinara  Begum  was  mounted  on  a  lusty  Pegu  elephant,  in  a  mik- 
dember,  all  shining  with  gold  and  azure,  attended  by  five  others  equally 
splendid,  with  the  ladies  of  her  household.  A  long  file  of  sixty  or  more 
elephants,  thus  marching  gravely,  had  a  grand  and  royal  appearance  %. 

t  Tavernier,  P.  II.  B.  I.  Cb.  XII.  +  Bernier's  Journey  to  Cashmere. 


FIVE  WILD  ELEPHANTS  KILLED. 


287 


CHAP. 
VIII. 

*  *  *  *  V^^Y—ak. 

The  Nabob  of  Oude,  in  1794,  went  on  a  bunting  expedition  to- 
wards the  mountains  which  separate  India  from  Thibet.  He  keeps  a 
great  number  of  elephants  for  his  pleasure,  and  had  with  him  of  his  own 
on  this  occasion,  above  a  thousand.  A  troop  of  one  hundred  and  se- 
venty wild  ones  was  met  with,  and,  being  surrounded,  the  tumult, 
noise,  and  confusion,  where  fourteen  hundred  elephants  were  engaged, 
it  is  not  possible  to  describe.  Five  wild  ones  were  killed,  and  twenty- 
one  were  captured  f. 

#  *        *  # 
RUSSIA. 

"After  this,  the  Emperor  Pheodor  Ivanovich  was  taken  out  of  his 
chair  of  majesty,  having  upon  him  a  robe,  adorned  with  precious 
stones  and  orient  pearls  in  great  quantity,  in  weight  two  hundred 
pounds;  the  train  borne  up  by  six  dukes,  his  chief  imperial  crown 
upon  his  head,  and  his  staff  imperial  in  his  right  hand,  of  an  unicorns 
horn,  three  feet  and  a  half  in  length,  and  beset  with  rich  stones ;  it  was 
bought  at  Augsburg  for  seven  thousand  marks  sterling."  Seen  by 
Jerom  Horsley,  Gent,  servant  to  her  Majestic,  A.  D.  1584.  Pur- 
chas,  HI.  743  The  staff  was,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  the  horn  of  a  rhi- 
noceros, of  extraordinary  length,  (it  is  possible  that  it  was  that  of  a 
narwal),  and  valued,  from  the  property  it  is  supposed  to  possess,  of 
being  a  charm  and  an  antidote  against  poisons.    This  notion  is  univer- 

t  Note  in  Sonini's  Buffon,  Vol.  XXVIII.    A  full  description  appeared,  soon 
after  the  hunting  took  place,  in  an  English  Magazine. 


288  VIRTUES  OF  THE  HORN  OF  THE  RHINOCEROS. 

CHAP,    sal,  and  rhinoceroses  have  been  esteemed  as  highly  valuable  in  all  coun- 
VIII. 
u»-y^  tries. 

The  writer  was  going  in  his  budgerow  through  the  Sunderbunds,  an 
extensive  uninhabited  district  of  Bengal,  full  of  rivers,  and  near  the 
sea,  when  he  came  to  an  open  place,  where  a  Portuguese  and  his  fa- 
mily resided :  his  pursuit  was  that  of  a  lime  burner ;  he  employed 
some  Indians  to  pick  up  shells,  a  species  of  the  Buccinum,  which  were 
in  plenty,  scattered  in  the  swamps  and  woods.  The  lime  made  from 
the  shells,  was  for  chewing,  when  properly  prepared,  with  the  betel 
leaT  and  areca  nut.  In  this  dangerous  pursuit,  he  had  lost  many  men 
by  the  tigers;  but  still  he  found  successors.  This  man  possessed  a 
small  horn  of  a  rhinoceros  that  had  been  killed  in  the  woods ;  and  had 
the  same  universal  opinion  of  its  virtues.  On  being  asked  how  it 
ought  to  be  used,  he  said,  that  he  put  a  small  quantity  of  water  in  the 
concave  part  of  the  root,  when  held  with  the  point  downwards ;  and 
stirred  the  water  with  the  point  of  an  iron  nail,  till  it  was  discoloured, 
when  the  patient  was  to  drink  it:  that  it  had  a  pungent  taste,  and 
that  he  had  given  it  with  success  to  a  person  who  had  been  bitten  by  a 
dog,  supposed  to  be  mad. 

The  reputation  of  the  horn,  in  this  and  other  instances,  is  probably 
derived  from  the  patients  not  having  been  poisoned,  and  the  dogs  not 
mad. 

#         #         *  # 

The  Czar,  Ivan  Vassilivitch  takes  great  pleasure  in  hunting  fallow- 
deer:  he  also  loves  fowling,  he  has  three  hundred  falconers,  and  the 
best  ger-falcons  in  the  world,  which  are  brought  from  Siberia.  Har- 
ris's Voyages,  Vol.  II.  477. 


*         #        #  * 


WILD  BEASTS  IN  POLAND.  289 

The  king  of  Persia  sent  the  Czar  an  elephant,  but  it  died,  on  its 
way  to  Moscow,  at  Zaritza. — Le  Bruyn,  Vol.  I.  p.  95. 


The  ambassadors  and  some  of  their  friends  took  a  walk,  about  a 
league  from  Astracan,  to  see  the  habitations  of  the  Tartars.  Every 
hut  had  its  hawk  or  falcon.  We  met  one  of  their  princes  return- 
ing from  his  sport  with  his  hawk  on  his  fist. — Olearius,  p.  132, 


GRAND  SEIGNIOR. 


Once  every  year  the  Grand  Seignior  recreates  himself  with  hawking, 
and  also  appoints  a  general  hunting  match.  A  space  of  ground  is  en- 
closed, of  five  or  six  days'  riding.  All  the  neighbouring  inhabitants  are 
ordered  to  appear.  When  the  game  is  driven  into  a  narrow  com- 
pass, the  sultan,  from  an  eminence,  has  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the 
wild  boars,  wolves,  foxes,  and  hares,  killed  with  clubs ;  and  the  phea- 
sants and  partridges  by  his  falcons*. 


POLAND. 


The  woods  in  Poland  are  well  stored  with  deer,  bears,  wolves, 
boars,  &c.  The  Masovian  forests  have  plenty  of  elks  as  large  as 
horses,  with  bodies  like  the  stag ;  wild  asses ;  buffaloes ;  bisonets,  in  shape 
and  horns  like  an  ox,  with  manes  like  horses',  beards  on  their  lower  jaws, 


*  Cornelius  Le  Bruyn,  105. 
pp 


290 


THE  URUS.— WILD  HORSES. 


CHAP,  hard  rough  tongues,  a  bunch  on  their  backs,  and  a  smell  of  musk: 
^-^^J  they  are  incredibly  strong.  The  Polish  nobility  hunt  them,  and  es- 
teem their  flesh,  when  powdered,  a  great  dainty.  The  urus,  called  by 
the  Polanders  Thur,  is  a  kind  of  wild  ox,  bigger,  stronger,  and  swifter 
than  the  tame :  he  has  a  short  black  beard,  a  bush  of  hair  upon  his 
forehead,  and  horns  very  wide  and  large:  Pliny  says  the  Romans 
made  lanterns  of  them.  In  the  deserts  near  the  Dnieper,  they  have 
a  sheep  like  a  goat,  with  short  legs,  and  horns  straight  up.  There 
are  wild  horses  in  the  Ukraine,  excellent  as  food:  and  in  Lithuania 
and  Muscovy,  a  beast  called  Rossomoko,  with  the  body  and  tail  of  a 
wolf,  and  the  face  of  a  cat,  which  feeds  on  dead  carcasses  *. 


*  Doctor  Bernard  Conner,  Physician  to  John  Sobieski.  Harris's  Voy.  II.  508. 
As  the  Mongols  were  in  Poland,  that  country  may  have  furnished  them  with  some 
of  the  animals,  of  which  bones  have  been  found. 


291 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Of  Roman  and  Greek  Wars  in  which  Elephants  were  employed.  

Marches  of  Hannibal  and  Asdrubal  over  the  Alps,  with  a  great 

number  of  Elephants.  Arduous  march  of  the  Consul  Mar- 

cius,  with  Elephants,  over  the  Olympic  chain  of  Mountains  in 

Greece.  Of  Acilius,  with  Elephants,  over  mount  Corax. — — 

Elephants  killed,  and  some  captured  by  Cato,  in  the  defile  of 
Thermopylce. 

Alexander  the  Great,  in  the  battle  with  Porus,  captured  all  the 
elephants  that  were  not  slain ;  besides  which  Bargantes  and  Omphis 
presented  him  with  one  hundred  and  twenty. — Q.  Curtius.  Arrian. 

The  kings,  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Ganges,  were  waiting  with 
an  immense  army,  chariots  of  war,  and  several  thousands  of  elephants, 
trained  for  war.  Androcottus,  who  reigned  not  long  after,  made  Se- 
leucus  a  present  of  five  hundred  at  one  time. — Plutarch,  "  Alexander." 

All  the  other  kings  having  united  their  forces  against  Antigonus,  B.C.  300. 
Demetrius  left  Greece  in  order  to  join  him.  Had  Antigonus  (sup- 
posed to  be  the  illegitimate  brother  of  Alexander  the  Great)  restrained 
his  ambition  to  govern  the  world,  he  might  have  kept  the  preeminence 
among  the  successors  of  Alexander :  but,  by  his  arrogance,  he  exasper- 
ated many  young  and  powerful  princes.    He  met  the  enemy  at  Ipsus 


B.C.  321. 


292 


ELEPHANTS  FIRST  USED  IN  ITALY. 


CHAP,    in  Phrygia.    He  had  seventy  thousand  foot,  ten  thousand  horse,  and 
IX. 

^-v-*-;  seventy-five  elephants.  The  confederate  forces  were  sixty-four  thou- 
sand foot,  ten  thousand  five  hundred  cavalry,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
armed  chariots,  and  four  hundred  elephants.  Lysimachus,  Seleucus, 
Ptolemy,  Cassander,  Antigonus,  and  Demetrius,  were  all  present. 
Pyrrhus  accompanied  Demetrius,  and,  though  but  young,  bore  down 
all  before  him.  Demetrius,  pursuing  the  enemy  imprudently,  was  in- 
tercepted by  their  numerous  elephants.  His  father,  Antigonus,  was 
killed;  and  Demetrius  fled  to  Ephesus  with  only  five  thousand  foot, 
and  four  thousand  horse.  The  kings  dismembered  the  conquered 
dominions;  and  each  took  a  limb. — Plutarch,  Dem.  and  Pyrrhus. 

B.C.  280.  Pyrrhus  was  the  first  who  brought  elephants  into  Italy.  They  were 
a  part  of  those  brought  by  the  Greeks  from  India,  He  had  twenty  in 
the  battle  of  Heraclea,  in  Lucania :  they  had  towers  upon  their  backs, 
full  of  bow-men;  and  the  sight  was  truly  terrifying*.  A  Homan  sol- 
dier cut  off  the  trunk  of  one  of  the  elephants  with  his  sword.  Pyrrhus 
owed  the  victory  to  his  elephants. — Catrou  and  Rouille,  Vol.  II. 
p.  444. 

B.C.  276.  Curius  Dentatus  was  near  Beneventum.  Pyrrhus  attacked  him  in 
the  Taurasian  fields.    On  the  first  onset,  a  great  number  of  the  Epi- 

*  When  Fabricius  went  to  Epirus  to  treat  about  the  ransom  and  exchange  of 
prisoners,  Pyrrhus  received  him  with  particular  distinction,  having-  been  informed 
that  he  was  highly  valued  by  the  Romans  for  his  probity  and  martial  abilities,  but 
that  he  was  extremely  poor.  Pyrrhus  privately  offered  him  gold  as  a  pledge  of  his 
friendship,  which  Fabricius  refused.  The  next  day  the  king,  knowing  that  he 
had  never  seen  an  elephant,  ordered  the  largest  he  had  to  be  armed  and  concealed 
behind  a  curtain  in  the  room  where  they  were  to  be  in  conference.  On  a  sign  being- 
given,  the  curtain  was  drawn,  and  the  elephant,  raising  his  trunk  over  the  head  of 
Fabricius,  made  a  horrid  and  terrifying  roar.  The  Roman  turned  about  without 
being  in  the  least  discomposed,  and  said  to  Pyrrhus,  smiling:,  "  Neither  your  gold 
yesterday,  nor  your  beast  to-day,  has  made  any  impression  upon  me." — Plutarch, 
"  Pyrrhus." 


ELEPHANTS  IN  GREECE.  293 

rots  were  killed,  and  some  of  their  elephants  taken.    Curius  now,  with  CHAP. 

IX. 

new  ardour,  drew  up  in  a  plain.    The  king,  assisted  by  his  elephants,  k^^-^^j 
repulsed  the  Romans.    A  corps  de  reserve  now  attacked  the  elephants, 
with  burning  torches  in  one  hand,  and  their  swords  in  the  other.  The 
fire,  pushed  against  these  huge  and  furious  animals,  put  them  to  flight, 
and  created  confusion. 

A  young  elephant,  which  had  been  wounded  in  the  battle,  made  a 
terrible  roaring.  The  mother  immediately  ran  to  her  young  one, 
which  drew  after  her  all  the  other  elephants,  and  caused  such  disorder, 
that  the  Romans  gained  a  complete  victory.  The  consul,  it  is  said, 
had  but  twenty  thousand  troops  in  all.  Pyrrhus  had  eighty  thousand 
foot,  and  six  thousand  horse ;  of  which  thirty-three  thousand  (some 
say  only  twenty  thousand)  were  slain:  eight  elephants  were  captured, 
four  died  of  their  wounds,  and  four  were  led  in  triumph  at  Rome. — 
Catrou,  II.  483, 486.   Orosius,  B.  IV.  Ch.  2.   Eutropius,  B.  2. 

Pyrrhus  had  many  elephants  at  the  siege  of  Argos.  The  noise  made  B.C.  272. 
by  the  elephants,  and  the  gates  not  proving  sufficiently  large  to  admit 
them  through  with  the  castles  upon  their  backs,  disconcerted  all  his 
measures,  and  produced  terrible  confusion.  Pyrrhus  was  slightly 
wounded  with  a  javelin  through  the  breast-plate  while  he  was  fight- 
ing with  the  soldier;  the  mother  of  the  latter,  from  the  top  of  a  house, 
beheld  her  son  thus  engaged,  and  threw  a  large  tile  with  both 
hands  at  Pyrrhus,  which  struck  his  head.  The  king  of  Macedon  fell 
from  his  horse  senseless.  One  Zopyrus  killed  the  king;  and  his  head 
was  sent  to  Antigonus. — Plutarch,  "  Life  of  Pyrrhus." 

Regulus,  in  the  battle  of  Adis,  not  far  from  Carthage,  captured  B.C.  255, 
eighteen  elephants. — Catrou,  II.  576. 

At  Panormus  (Palermo)  the  Carthaginian  officer,  named  Asdrubal,  B.C.  250, 
drew  up  his  elephants,  one  hundred  and  forty  in  number,  in  one  line. 
The  Roman  archers  poured  down  a  shower  of  darts  upon  them  and 


294  ELEPHANTS  IN  SICILY. 

their  guides,  from  the  top  of  the  ramparts  of  the  city,  by  which  these 
monstrous  beasts  were  rendered  furious :  some  threw  their  guides,  and 
trod  them  under  foot;  others  fell  into  the  ditch,  where  they  were  kill- 
ed ;  many,  having  no  guides,  rushed  through  the  Carthaginian  pha- 
lanxes, beat  down  the  men  with  their  trunks,  and  trampled  upon  what- 
ever stood  in  their  way.  This  was  the  happy  minute  Metellus  waited 
for.  He  attacked  the  battalions  in  flank,  and  cut  many  of  the  troops 
in  pieces.  Some  fled  to  the  fleet  which  lay  along  the  coast  of  Panor- 
mus,  but  were  either  killed  by  the  elephants  or  drowned.  Twenty-six 
elephants  were  taken  or  slain  at  the  first  onset:  the  rest  were  running 
about  the  plain,  or  wandering  in  the  fields  without  their  guides ;  but 
they  obeyed  the  voices  of  their  former  masters,  and  were  gathered  to- 
gether. Metellus  sent  one  hundred  and  four,  or  more,  to  the  coast; 
where  he  ordered  a  large  raft  to  be  constructed,  and  covered  with 
earth ;  it  was  planked  at  the  sides,  high  enough  for  the  security  of  the 
elephants.  The  raft  was  placed  upon  empty  barrels,  and  the  whole 
number  crossed  the  straits  to  Rhegium,  with  the  utmost  quietness 
during  the  passage.  Livy  and  Seneca  make  the  number  one  hundred 
and  twenty.  Dion  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight.  Pliny  one  hundred 
and  forty-two. — Catrou,  II.  p.  591. 
B.C. -221.  Hannibal,  on  the  deaths  of  his  father  Hamilcar  and  his  brother-m- 
law  Asdrubal,  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  army  in  Spain:  he 
was  twenty-six  years  of  age.  Althea  was  taken  by  assault  (near  To- 
ledo).—Catrou,  III.  40. 
B.C.  219.  Hannibal  gained  a  victory  on  the  banks  of  the  Tagus,  over  the  Car- 
petani.  (Toledo  was  their  capital,  according  to  Pliny.)  He  had 
forty  elephants  in  the  battle,  and  numbers  of  the  Spaniards  were  trod- 
den to  death  by  them. — Catrou,  III.  47. 

Saguntum,  after  a  siege  of  six  months,  was  taken :  and  Hannibal 
passed  the  winter  at  New  Carthage.    He  received  a  reinforcement  of 
B.C.  218.  fourteen  elephants  from  Africa. 


HANNIBAL  CROSSES  THE  ALPS. 


Leaving  the  command  in  Spain  to  his  brother  Asdrubal,  he  set  out 
on  his  expedition  to  Italy  with  fifty  thousand  foot,  nine  thousand 
horse,  and  thirty-seven  elephants.  —  Rendezvous  at  Illiberis  (Collioure 
in  Rousillon).  The  army  encamped  at  Nismes.  The  Rhone  was  cross- 
ed at  Montfaucon,  nearly  opposite  Orange*,  and  the  army  marched 
upon  the  east  bank  of  the  Rhone  through  Montelimart  and  Valence  to 
Viennef:  eastward  to  St.  Genis,  and  north  to  Yenne,  where  the  Alps 
commence,  both  upon  the  Rhone:  from  Yenne  to  Chambery,  and 
thence  to  Montmelian,  Conflans,  Moustier,  Aime,  and  Scex,  all  five 
upon  the  right  bank  of  the  Isere.  Hannibal  lost  many  men  and  cattle 
by  the  assaults  of  the  mountaineers,  who  rolled  down  fragments  of 
rock,  and  attacked  his  advanced  guard ;  but  the  elephants  stopped 
their  fury. 

The  army  reached  the  little  Saint  Bernard.  It  was  now  the  26th  of 
October,  and  upon  the  summit  of  their  passage  over  the  mountain, 
there  had  recently  been  a  fall  of  snow,  under  which  the  old  snow  was 
hard,  compact  and  slippery.  The  surface  being  cleared,  the  tents  were 
pitched,  by  breaking  holes  in  the  ice ;  and  the  army  reposed  tAvo  days. 

The  descent  appeared  more  difficult  and  dangerous  than  ascending. 
The  Numidians,  by  the  use  of  fire,  (some  historians  say,  that  vinegar 
was  used  on  this  occasion),  and  iron  instruments,  made  a  hollow  way, 
so  as  to  lessen  the  declivity ;  through  which  men,  horses,  and  ele- 
phants passed  with  a  little  more  ease.  The  army  was  six  days  in  de- 
scending ;  making  fifteen  days  for  the  whole  journey  over  the  Alps. 

*  See  the  Map.  The  very  curious  silver  medal,  with  the  head  of  Hannibal,  and 
the  other,  supposed  to  be  that  of  Dido,  is  from  Hayni.  Del  Tesoro  Brittannico, 
Vol.  I.  p.  143.  Hannibal's  name  is  in  Punic  characters,  (in  the  possession  of  the 
Earl  of  Pembroke). 

f  Brancus  and  his  younger  brother  having  quarrelled,  appealed  to  Hannibal, 
who  took  part  with  Brancus,  and  left  him  established  in  the  kingdom  (of  the  Allo- 
broges).    This,  and  the  hostility  of  the  Gauls,  retarded  his  march. 


ELEPHANTS  DROWNED  IN  THE  ARNO. 

It  was  now,  on  its  arrival  in  Insubria,  reduced  to  twenty  thousand 
foot,  and  six  thousand  horse :  the  number  of  elephants  lost  is  not  men- 
tioned. The  men  were  so  pale  and  ghastly,  that  they  appeared  like 
skeletons  newly  raised  from  the  dead :  or  hairy  savages  born  in  a  de- 
sert. The  march  was  by  St.  Didier,  Aoste,  Bard,  Ivree,  and  Chivas, 
to  Turin.  (This  account  of  the  march  is  taken  from  the  "  Histoire 
du  Passage  des  Alpes  par  Annibah"  d'apres  la  narration  de  Polybe, 
comparee  aux  recherches  faites  sur  les  lieux.  Par  J.  A.  De  Luc, 
Geneve,  1818.)  See,  also,  Catrou,  Vol.  III.  and  Rees's  Cyc.  Cartha- 
ginians." 

Hannibal  joined  the  Insubrians  and  took  Turin.  He  gained  a  vic- 
tory over  Scipio  on  the  banks  of  the  Tessin,  about  five  miles  north  of 
Pavia. 

A  large  body  of  Gauls  deserted  from  Scipio,  and  went  over  to  Han- 
nibal, who  gained  a  victory  over  Sempronius  on  the  banks  of  the  Tre- 
bia ;  in  which  the  elephants  killed  a  great  number  of  the  Romans. 

In  crossing  the  Appennines,  the  Carthaginian  army  was  overtaken 
among  the  rocks  by  a  terrible  tempest:  many  men,  horses,  and  seven 
of  the  small  number  of  elephants  they  had  left,  after  the  battle  of  Tre- 
bia,  were  starved  to  death  *.  By  this  distress  Hannibal  was  driven 
back,  and  encamped  about  ten  miles  from  Placentia,  where  he  again 
fought  a  battle  with  Sempronius,  with  loss  to  both  armies.  After 
this  the  Carthaginians  marched  for  Etruria.  "  The  Arno  was  swelled 
to  a  great  height,  and  Hannibal  lost  many  men  and  beasts,  particular- 
ly of  the  elephants,  of  which  the  only  one  remaining  was  that  Getulian 
beast  on  which  he  was  mounted." — Madan's  Juvenal,  Sat.  X.  note 
157. 

*  Twelve  or  fifteen  would  be  a  small  number  out  of  thirty-seven;  which  would 
leave  a  few  to  lose  in  the  Val.  d'Arno  afterwards.  The  context  by  no  means  re- 
quires that  only  one  was  left,  on  the  retreat  from  the  Appennines,  nor  is  there 
mention  of  any  being  lost  in  the  last  battle  with  Sempronius. 


B.C.  216. 


QUICK  MARCH  WITH  ELEPHANTS.  297 

Hannibal  gained  the  battle  of  Thrasymene,  and  the  next  year  the 
Romans  were  defeated  by  him  at  Cannae. 

Hannibal  attacked  Casilinum,  near  Capua,  but  failed :  a  party  sal- 
lied out  to  attack  him ;  and  was  nearly  cut  off  by  his  line  of  forty  ele- 
phants, with  which  he  had  been  supplied  from  Carthage. — Livy,  B. 

XXIII.  Ch.  XVIII.  Catrou,  III.  p.  148.    Capua  surrenders  to  Han- 
nibal, a  city  with  which  he  becomes  enchanted. 

Hannibal  was  defeated  by  Marcellus,  at  Nola;  four  elephants  were  B.C.  215, 
slain  and  two  captured. — Livy,  XXIII.  Ch.  XLVI. 

Asdrubal  (the  bald)  in  a  battle  in  Sardinia,  in  which  he  had  twenty 
elephants,  was  utterly  defeated,  by  the  Praetor  Manlius. — Catrou,  III. 
p.  205. 

Bomilcar  landed  from  Carthage  a  reinforcement  of  troops  and 
elephants,  in  the  country  of  the  Locri,  for  Hannibal. — Catrou,  III. 
p.  209. 

Hannibal,  while  besieging  the  citadel  of  Tarentum,  was  necessitated  B.C.  211. 
to  march  in  haste  to  relieve  Capua,  his  beloved  city,  reduced  to  hun- 
ger and  great  distress.  Leaving  his  heavy  troops  and  baggage  in  the 
country  of  the  Brutii,  he  took  with  him  his  invincible  cavalry  and 
light  armed  infantry,  and  marched  for  Campania.  His  elephants, 
thirty-three  in  number,  also  accompanied  him,  and  were  as  swift  as  his 
men  and  horses:  their  heavy  carcasses  did  not  sink  under  the fatigues  of 
a  hasty  march:  he  encamped  near  Capua.  In  an  attack  by  the  Ro- 
mans, three  elephants  were  killed.— Catrou,  III.  p.  299,    Livy,  B. 

XXIV.  Ch  VI. 

Hannibal  was  defeated  by  Caius  Decimus  Flavius  atCanusium;   B.C.  209, 
eight  thousand  men  and  five  elephants  were  left  dead. — Livy,  B. 
XXVII.  Ch.  XII. 

Nine  years  had  Asdrubal,  Hannibal's  brother,  commanded  in  Spain ; 

QQ 


298  MARCH  OF  ASDRUBAL  OVER  THE  ALPS. 

CHAP,    during  which  period  he  destroyed  the  country  of  the  Carpetani  with 
IX. 

^^-v*-**^  fire,  sword,  and  elephants. 

He  fought  the  two  Scipios  at  Ibera  (Tortosa)  and  was  defeated,  but 
saved  his  elephants. — Livy,  B.  XXXIII. 

The  Scipios  gained  a  bloody  victory  over  Asdrubal,  near  Cordova; 
in  which  five  elephants  were  slain. — Livy,  B.  XXIII.  Ch.  XLIX. 

At  Indibilis,  in  Arragon,  Asdrubal  was  again  defeated  by  the  Sci- 
pios, and  nine  elephants  were  killed. — Catrou,  III.  p.  208, 

He  was  defeated,  by  the  same  generals,  at  Munda,  in  Granada: 
twelve  thousand  men  and  thirty-nine  elephants  were  left  slain  upon 
the  field  of  battle. 

At  Aurinx,  in  Bcetica,  Asdrubal  lost  another  battle  in  which  eight 
elephants  were  killed,  and  three  were  captured. — Livy,  B.  XXIV. 
Ch.  XLII. 

Thus  were  the  nine  years  employed,  when  he  collected  his  troops,  and 
fled  to  the  Pyrenees,  in  order  to  join  his  brother  in  Italy.  He  gain- 
ed the  affection  of  the  Averni  in  Gaul,  and  was  accompanied  by  a 
good  number  of  them  over  the  Alps,  and  also  by  the  Mountaineers. 
He  found  the  mountains  more  passable  than  when  his  brother  had 
crossed  them;  the  roads  being  worn  by  the  numbers  who  had  gone 
over  them  for  the  last  twelve  years. 
B.C.  207.  Hannibal,  being  at  Grumentum  in  Lucania,  was  attacked  by  the 
consul  Nero,  who  killed  eight  thousand  troops  and  four  elephants  : 
and  captured  seven  thousand  prisoners  and  two  elephants.  By  a  stra- 
tagem Hannibal  reached  Metapontus,  in  the  gulf  of  Tarentum,  and 
recruited  his  army  with  the  troops  under  Hanno. 

In  the  mean  while  Asdrubal  had  unexpectedly  passed  the  Alps  in 
the  short  space  of  two  months.  Of  his  large  force  he  had  remaining 
forty  thousand  foot,  eight  thousand  horse,  and  fifteen  elephants :  his 
army  increased  on  his  arrival  in  Italy. 


MANY  ELEPHANTS  IN  ITALY. 


299 


He  laid  siege  to  Placentia,  but  failed  in  his  attempt,  and  proceeded  CHAP. 

lis.* 

to  Umbria.  His  letters  to  Hannibal  were  intercepted.  On  this  dis- 
covery,  Nero  hastened  to  meet  Asdrubal.  After  encamping  near 
Sena,  the  two  armies  fought  on  the  banks  of  the  Metaurus.  The  ele- 
phants being  attacked  at  once  by  horse  and  foot,  turned  their  rage 
against  their  own  army:  some  grew  furious  and  ran  about,  having 
thrown  their  guides,  treading  down  the  battalions.  Asdrubal  had 
ordered  their  managers  to  carry  a  kind  of  knife  and  mallet ;  and  to 
destroy  such  as  were  ungovernable,  by  driving  the  knife  with  all  their 
strength,  into  the  joint  which  connects  the  head  with  the  neck.  Six 
were  thus  dispatched.  Asdrubal,  covered  with  blood,  and  distracted 
with  the  slaughter  of  his  troops,  rushed  into  the  midst  of  a  Roman 
battalion,  and  died  fighting.  Fifty-five  thousand  Carthaginians  were 
slain,  and  four  elephants  were  captured. — Livy,  B.  XXVII.  Catron, 
410  to  416. 

When  Hannibal's  brother  marched,  by  the  Alps,  to  Italy,  he  left  B.C.  206. 
the  command  in  Spain  to  Asdrubal,  the  son  of  Gisco,  whose  army  con- 
sisted of  seventy  thousand  foot,  forty-five  thousand  horse,  and  thirty- 
two  elephants.  Scipio,  with  an  inferior  force,  defeated  him  at  Baecu- 
la:  and  in  the  retreat,  (during  which  there  was  a  violent  tempest),  de- 
stroyed all  his  troops  except  six  thousand :  this  general  and  Mago,  a 
brother  of  Hannibal,  escaped  to  Cadiz. — Catrou,  III.  p.  435  to  439. 
Polybius,  B.  XI. 

Scipio  invaded  Africa,  and  at  Utica  again  defeated  the  son  of  Gisco  B.C.  203 
and  Syphax,  who  had  one  hundred  and  forty  elephants,  six  of  which 
Scipio  captured. — Catrou,  III.  pp.  511,  520. 

Mago,  Hannibal's  brother,  invaded  Italy  by  sea.  The  Praetor,  Va- 
rus, and  the  Proconsul  C.  Cethegus,  gained  a  great  victory  over  him 
in  Insubria,  notwithstanding  the  terror  inspired  by  his  large  front  of 
elephants,  which  was  drawn  up  before  the  Roman  cavalry.    Mago  was 


QQ2 


300 


ALL  THE  CARTHAGINIAN  ELEPHANTS  CAPTURED. 


CHAP,    wounded,  and  retreated  towards  Liguria. — Catrou,  III.  537.  Livy, 


B.C.  202.      Hannibal  followed  Scipio  to  Africa.    At  the  battle  of  Zama  he 


placed  eighty  elephants  in  the  front.  These  animals  causing  much 
slaughter  among  Scipio's  light-armed  troops,  he  ordered  his  Italian 
cavalry  to  dismount ;  and,  having  himself  done  the  same,  they  show- 
ered their  darts  upon  the  elephants,  one  of  which  was  killed  by  Scipio. 
Some  of  the  elephants  threw  Hannibal's  right  wing  into  confusion. 
After  a  tremendous  conflict,  Hannibal  fled  for  refuge  to  Adrumetum. 
By  the  third  article  of  the  treaty  which  followed,  the  Carthaginians 
engaged  to  deliver  up  all  the  elephants  which  were  trained  for  war,  and 


B.C.  201.  not  to  tame  any  more  of  these  animals.  Part  of  them  were  sent  to 
Rome,  and  part  given  to  Masinissa.  At  the  triumph  granted  to  Sci- 
pio, after  the  white  bulls  and  other  victims  to  be  offered  in  sacri- 
fice, the  elephants,  taken  from  the  enemy,  followed  in  the  procession. 
—Catrou,  III.  553  to  571. 

B.C.  200.       The  Romans,  for  the  first  time,  employ  elephants  in  their  wars. 

A  battle  is  fought  with  Philip,  King  of  Macedon,  at  Lycus. — Livy, 
B.  XXXI. 

B.C.  197.  At  Cynocephalae,  near  Thebes,  in  Boeotia,  Q.  Flaminius  defeated  Phi- 
lip, King  of  Macedon,  by  his  elephants  producing  disorder  and  confu- 
sion in  the  king's  army. — Catrou,  IV.  73. 

B.C.  192.  Greece  being  now  the  seat  of  war,  Antiochus  the  Great  sent  ten 
thousand  foot  and  six  elephants  to  Demetrias.  Polixenidas  was  dis- 
patched to  conduct  the  rest  of  the  troops  into  Europe.  The  King  of 
Syria  threatened  Larissa  in  vain.  His  first  line  consisted  of  elephants. 
—  Catrou,  IV.  162. 

B.C.  191.  The  Consul  Acilius  set  out  for  Greece  in  the  month  of  May,  at- 
tended by  L.  Q.  Flaminius,  and  the  famous  Cato  as  a  legionary  tribune. 
The  consul  landed  with  twenty  thousand  foot,  two  thousand  horjse,  and 


IX. 


XXX.  Ch.  XVIII. 


ANTIOCHUS. — CATO. — THERMOPYLAE. 


301 


fifteen  elephants.    He  rested  his  army  at  Larissa,  and  then  ravaged  CHAP. 

IX. 

the  country  at  Hypata,  between  Mount  Pindus  and  Mount  Othrys. 
All  Thessaly  fell  off  from  Antiochus,  and  joined  with  the  strongest 
side.  Hannibal  was  with  the  king,  and  gave  him  excellent  counsel ; 
but  it  was  neglected.  Cleoptolemus,  a  considerable  citizen  at  Chalcis, 
had  lent  his  house  to  Antiochus,  with  the  daughter  of  whom  the  king 
became  enamoured,  married  her,  and  was  intoxicated  with  the  charms 
of  his  new  queen.  The  Asiatic  reinforcements  had  not  yet  arrived. 
The  king  seized  the  celebrated  defile  of  Thermopylae,  fortified  it,  and 
guarded  the  summits  of  Mount  (Eta  which  were  nearest  his  camp, 
with  his  two  thousand  (Etolians. 

The  consul  was  in  great  perplexity,  and  listened  to  the  advice  of 
Cato.  Taking  a  detachment  of  troops,  Cato  ascended  the  difficult 
heights;  and  at  the  same  time  Acilius  attacked  the  Syrians  in  front, 
and  forced  their  first  line.  While  he  was  endeavouring  to  force  the 
second  line,  and  suffering  great  loss  of  men  by  the  pikes  of  the  Asia- 
tics, Cato  was  seen  in  the  rear  by  the  troops  of  Antiochus,  driving  in 
the  (Etolians.  Some  resistance  was  still  making,  when  the  king  re- 
ceived a  blow  with  a  stone,  which  broke  his  teeth,  and  he  withdrew. 
The  Syrians  flung  down  their  arms  and  fled :  fortunately,  their  ele- 
phants in  the  rear  covered  their  flight,  and  saved  a  considerable 
part  of  the  army.  The  Romans  fell  to  plundering  the  camp,  and 
killed  many  men,  horses,  and  elephants.  The  remaining  elephants 
were  captured. 

Acilius,  embracing  Cato,  said — "  The  service  you  have  done  the  re- 
public is  greater  than  the  favours  she  has  ever  done  you."  This  was 
saying  a  great  deal  of  a  new  man.  After  this,  the  last  exploit  by  which 
Cato  signalized  himself  in  war,  he  became  a  great  reformer. — Plu- 
tarch, «  Cato."    Livy,  B.  XXXVI.    Catrou,  B.  XXXIX. 

Acilius  marched  towards  Chalcis.   Antiochus,  with  his  queen,  retired 


302 


ALL  THE  ELEPHANTS  OF  ANTIOCHUS  CAPTURED. 


CHAP,  to  Ephesus.  After  taking  Chalcis,  Heraclea,  and  Lamia,  the  consul 
v-*— v--**^  resolved  to  attack  Naupactus,  (Lepanto),  for  which  purpose  he,  with 
his  army  and  baggage,  marched  across  Corax,  the  highest  mountain  in 
Greece.  Great  numbers  of  soldiers  and  beasts  of  burthen  were  killed 
by  tumbling  down  the  precipices. — Catrou,  IV.  185.  (It  is  not  said 
how  many  elephants  were  in  the  army  of  the  consul ;  but,  in  addition 
to  his  own,  there  were  those  captured  at  Thermopylae.) 
A  Truce  was  made. 

B.C.  190.      In  the  battle  at  Magnesia,  in  Asia  Minor,  between  Antiochus  and 


L.  C.  Scipio,  the  Romans  had  thirty  thousand  foot,  three  thousand 
horse,  and  fourteen  elephants.  The  Syrian  forces  were  seventy  thou- 
sand foot,  twelve  thousand  horse,  and  fifty-four  elephants,  with  towers 
of  several  floors  full  of  slingers  and  archers,  men  mounted  on  camels, 
and  Arabians  upon  dromedaries.  Scipio's  elephants  were  from  Afri- 
ca, those  of  Antiochus  from  India.  The  latter  vastly  excelled  the  for- 
mer in  strength,  height,  and  courage ;  therefore  young  Scipio  placed  his 
elephants  only  as  a  corps  de  reserve,  in  the  rear  of  his  army.  In  this 
bloody  action,  Antiochus  lost  fifty  thousand  killed  and  prisoners.  On- 
ly fifteen  elephants  were  taken  alive,  almost  the  whole  of  the  remainder 
the  Romans  had  killed  in  the  battle,  by  cutting  off  their  trunks  with 
their  swords.  Antiochus  fled  to  Sardis. — Livy,  B.  XXXVII. — 
Catrou,  IV.  B.  XLI. 


B.C.  188.      By  the  ninth  article  of  the  peace,  the  king  engaged  to  deliver  up  all 

his  elephants,  and  not  to  train  up  any  more  for  war. 
B.C.  171.      In  the  war  between  the  Romans,  and  Perses,  king  of  Macedon,  the 


Consul  Licinius  received,  while  he  was  on  the  banks  of  the  Peneus,  a 
reinforcement  of  twenty-two  elephants  and  two  thousand  troops. 
They  were  brought  by  Misagenes,  a  bastard  son  of  Masinissa. — Ca- 
trou, IV.  393. 


B.C.  169.      Perses,  the  king,  was  now  in  Macedon.    The  Consul  Marcius,  being 


DIFFICULT  MARCH  OVER  MOUNTAINS. 


303 


with  his  army  at  Pharsalia,  resolved  on  invading  Macedon;  and,  not-  CHAP, 
withstanding  his  age  and  corpulence,  he  bore  the  fatigues  of  the  most  ^-^-^ 
laborious  march  recorded  in  history.  He  sent  forward  Attalus  and  Mi- 
sagenes,  with  their  auxiliaries,  to  level  the  roads  as  much  as  possible : 
they  were  followed  by  the  beasts  of  burthen,  waggons,  and  elephants. 
The  consul,  with  his  legions,  brought  up  the  rear.  The  great  danger 
was  in  descending  the  mountains:  some  elephants  and  horses  had 
tumbled  down  the  precipices.  In  order  to  get  down  with  more  secu- 
rity, the  Romans  built  bridges  of  boards,  one  below  another,  upon 
posts  like  piles,  and  covered  them  with  earth.  When  an  elephant 
had  come  near  to  the  first  bridge,  the  piles  of  it  were  cut,  and  the 
beast  was  suffered  to  slide  down  to  the  second  bridge ;  and  so  on,  till 
at  length  they  reached  the  valley.  The  army  could  not  march  above 
seven  miles  each  day.  Marcius  himself  confessed  that  Perses  might 
have  cut  all  his  army  in  pieces,  with  a  handful  of  men. 

The  army,  after  great  suffering,  arrived  in  Macedon ;  and,  from  ne- 
cessity, encamped  in  a  deep  valley,  where  the  enemy  might  with 
stones  have  destroyed  it.  Perses  became  the  jest  of  his  soldiers,  for 
losing  these  opportunities.  When  he  received  the  intelligence,  he  was 
amazed  and  perplexed.  He  ordered  all  the  gold  and  silver  in  the 
treasury  at  Pella,  to  be  thrown  into  the  sea :  his  ships  at  Thessalonica 
to  be  burnt,  and  all  his  valuable  statues  to  be  sent  on  board  his  ves- 
sels at  Dium.    He  fled  to  Pydna. 

The  consul,  being  distressed  for  provisions,  returned  to  the  fron- 
tiers of  Thessaly :  he  again  advanced,  and  the  Roman  fleet  arrived. 
Meliboea,  upon  mount  Ossa,  and  other  places,  were  kept  in  awe  by  Ro- 
man detachments.  The  campaign  ended  without  much  weakening 
Perses. 

Polybius  (the  historian)  arrived  from  the  republic  of  Achaia,  to  of- 
fer the  consul  some  troops  to  join  Appius  Claudius:  but  the  offer  was 
declined.— Catrou,  B.  XLIV. 


304  PAULUS  ^MILIUS  CROSSES  OLYMPUS. 

CHAP.       Paulus  iEmilius,  now  sixty  years  old,  was  appointed  consul ;  and 
ix_. 

-^y^Y^^J  was  sent  to  Greece.  He  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the  Enipeus  in 
Thessaly.  Perses,  who  was  encamped  on  the  opposite  bank,  removed 
to  Pydna.  On  this,  Paulus  iEmilius  crossed,  and  marched  towards 
Pythium,  in  order  to  join  his  detachment.  This  place  stood  on  the 
highest  summit  of  mount  Olympus.  The  consul  encamped  in  a  val- 
ley on  the  sea  shore.  He  mounted  Olympus  with  his  army,  joined  his 
detachment  at  Pythium,  and  descended  with  caution,  not  knowing  what 
ambushes  Perses  might  have  prepared.  Having  reached  the  plain, 
the  consul  marched  along  the  sea  shore,  in  communication  with  his 
fleet;  his  troops  being  much  distressed  with  thirst  and  fatigue,  from 
the  great  heat.  Having  arrived  near  Pydna,  the  army  was  drawn  up 
in  battalia,  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  who  was  prepared  and  in  good  or- 
der. But  the  consul  resolved  to  rest  his  army,  and  the  pioneers  form- 
ed a  camp  for  the  night. 

Perses  had  a  fine  army,  of  forty-five  thousand  troops.  A  battle  was 
fought  in  the  morning.  The  Romans  were  inferior  in  number,  but 
killed  twenty-five  thousand,  and  lost  incredibly  few.  No  use  was 
made  of  the  elephants,  the  Romans  being  undeceived  as  to  any  advan- 
tage arising  from  them  in  battle :  they  were  therefore  employed  in 
pursuing  the  Aglaspides  when  the  first  legion  had  routed  them.  In 
this  action  Cato,  son  of  the  censor,  who  had  married  the  daughter  of 
Paulus  iEmilius,  performed  acts  of  valour,  worthy  his  descent.  Ne- 
vertheless, an  inundation  of  Phalangites  fell  on  the  company  he  com- 
manded, and  forced  it  to  retire.  In  this  retreat  Cato  perceived  that 
he  had  dropped  his  sword,  he  therefore  assembled  some  of  his  friends, 
and  returned  to  the  charge.  This  company  of  brave  men  fell  with 
fury  on  the  enemy,  and  made  such  a  void  round  Cato,  that  he  had 
time  and  room  to  look  for  his  sword,  and  found  it  —  an  action  which 
was  very  pleasing  to  Paulus  iEmilius.    As  to  Perses,  his  whole  mind 


ANTIOCHUS  ATTACKS  JERUSALEM.  305 

and  time  were  occupied  in  thinking  of  and  attending  to  his  vases  CHAP, 
and  other  utensils  of  gold  and  silver:  and  in  sparing  his  wealth,  instead  <^^y^u 
of  making  a  liberal  use  of  it  among  those  of  his  defenders  who  had  a 
just  right  to  expect  rewards.  This  contemptible  conduct  led  to  the 
loss  of  his  wealth,  his  liberty,  and  his  life ;  and  transferred  the  mighty 
kingdom  of  Alexander  to  the  Romans;  under  whom  it  became  a 
province.  See  Plutarch,  "  P.  iEmilius."  Livy,  XLIV.  XLV.  Catron, 
Book  XL VI. 

Antiochus,  being  humbled  by  the  inflexible  and  haughty  Roman  am-  B.C.  163. 
bassadors,  resolved  to  vent  his  rage  on  Jerusalem. — Catrou,  IV.  409. 
"  The  number  of  the  king's  army  was  one  hundred  thousand  footmen, 
twenty  thousand  horse-men,  and  thirty-two  elephants,  exercised  in  bat- 
tle. The  king,  rising  very  early,  marched  fiercely  to  battle,  and  sounded 
the  trumpets.  And  to  the  end  they  might  provoke  the  elephants  to 
fight,  they  shewed  them  the  blood  of  grapes  and  of  mulberries.  More- 
over, they  divided  the  beasts  among  the  armies,  and  for  every  ele- 
phant they  appointed  a  thousand  men,  armed  with  coats  of  mail,  and 
with  helmets  of  brass  on  their  heads :  and  besides  this,  for  every  beast 
were  ordained  five  hundred  horsemen  of  the  best.  And  upon  the 
beasts,  were  there  strong  towers  of  wood,  which  covered  every  one  of 
them,  and  were  girt  fast  unto  them  with  devices:  there  were  also  up- 
on every  one,  two-and-thirty  strong  men,  that  fought  upon  them,  be- 
side the  Indian  that  ruled  him.  Now.  when  the  sun  shone  upon  the 
shields  of  gold  and  brass,  the  mountains  glistered  therewith  and  shined 
like  lamps  of  fire.  Then  Judas  and  his  host  drew  near,  and  entered 
into  the  battle;  and  the  king  lost  six  hundred  men.  Eleazar,  also 
surnamed  Savaran,  perceiving  that  one  of  the  beasts,  armed  with  royal 
harness,  was  higher  than  all  the  rest,  and  supposing  that  the  king  was 
upon  him,  ran  forward  courageously,  slaying  on  the  right  hand  and  on 
the  left,  so  that  they  were  divided  from  him  on  both  sides.  Which 


RR 


\ 


;06  THE  ROMANS  CAPTURE  ALL  JUGURTHA'S  ELEPHANTS. 

CHAP,  done,  he  crept  under  the  elephant  and  thrust  him  under  and  slew  him : 
whereupon  the  elephant  fell  down  upon  him,  and  there  he  died.  How- 
beit,  the  rest  of  the  J ews,  seeing  the  strength  of  the  king,  and  the  vio- 
lence of  his  forces,  turned  away  from  them.  Then  the  king's  army 
went  up  to  Jerusalem  to  meet  them,  and  the  king  pitched  his  tents 
against  Judea,  and  against  mount  Sion." — 1  Maccabees,  Ch  VI. 

B.C.  134.  Scipio,  having  the  command  in  Spain,  Micipsa  sent  him  a  reinforce- 
ment of  elephants  and  cavalry  by  young  Prince  J ugurtha,  who  after- 
wards became  so  famous. — Catrou,  V.  87. 

B.C.  111.  Jugurtha,  now  King  of  Numidia,  delivered  to  the  Romans  thirty  ele- 
phants, money,  &c. — Catrou,  Vol.  V.  p.  207. 

B.C.  109.  Q-  Csecilius  Numidicus,  at  the  battle  of  Muthullus,  in  Africa,  killed 
forty  of  Jugurtha's  elephants,  and  captured  four. — Catrou,  Vol.  V. 
p.  220. 

B.C.  108.  Jugurtha  delivered  up  to  Metellus  two  hundred  thousand  pounds 
weight  of  silver,  and  all  his  elephants. — Catrou,  Vol.  V.  p.  225. 

B.C.  53.  Caesar  had  a  vastly  large  armed  elephant  when  he  crossed  the 
Thames  at  Oatlands,  at  the  sight  of  which  the  Britons  fled. — Polyae- 
nus,  B.  VIII. 

B.C.  46.  Julius  Caesar  drew  out  before  Thapsus,  causing  sixty-four  elephants, 
which  he  had  taken,  with  all  their  castles,  armour,  and  ornaments,  to 
pass  by  the  town,  to  reduce  Virgilius  to  reason. 

A  veteran  of  the  fifth  legion,  observing  an  elephant  that  was  enraged 
with  a  wound  which  he  had  received,  attack  an  unarmed  sutler,  crush- 
ing him  under  his  knee  till  the  weight  had  forced  his  soul  to  forsake 
his  body,  roaring  all  the  while,  and  brandishing  his  proboscis,  could  no 
longer  restrain  himself  from  engaging  the  beast.  The  elephant,  perceiv- 
ing him  approach,  forsook  the  dead  body,  caught  his  enemy  up  in  his 
trunk,  in  armour  as  he  was,  and  whirled  him  about  in  the  air.  The 
veteran,  notwithstanding  the  peril  he  was  in,  maintained  his  presence 


SEPTIMIUS  SEVERUS  POSSESSES  ELEPHANTS. 


307 


of  mind,  and  cut  the  elephant's  proboscis  till  he  obliged  him  to  forego  CHAP, 
his  prey.    He  retired,  with  a  hideous  roaring,  to  the  rest  of  his  com-  v-^-y^/ 
panions. — Caesar's  Com.  "  Africa,"  XVIII. 

Claudius  invaded  Britain,  like  a  great  Eastern  monarch,  with  armed    A.J).  43. 
elephants,  and  fifty  thousand  troops. — Milton's  History  of  Britain.  Ra- 
pin.  Camden. 

When  Didius  Julianus  was  informed  that  Septimius  Severus  had  A.J).  193. 
commenced  his  march,  nothing  was  to  be  seen  at  Rome  but  horses, 
troops,  and  elephants,  training  for  service*.  —Bernard. 

In  the  battle  between  Alexander  Severus  and  Artaxerxes,  the  Per-  A.D.  230. 
sians  had  seven  hundred  elephants,  of  which  two  hundred  were  killed, 
and  three  hundred  taken;  the  Emperor  took  with  him  eighteen  to 
Rome. — Speech  of  Alexander  Severus  to  the  senate.    Bernard,  from 
Lampridius,  Vol.  I.  p.  450. 

The  Emperor  Jovian,  near  the  castle  of  Suma,  was  attacked  by  the  A.D.  364. 
Persian  cavalry,  accompanied  by  a  great  number  of  elephants.  The 
shock  was  great,  but  the  Romans,  taking  advantage  of  a  rising  ground, 
threw  darts,  and  wounded  the  elephants,  which  fled,  and  broke  the 
line  of  cavalry,  when  the  soldiers  killed  many  of  them,  and  of  the  Per- 
sians. The  Romans  marched  forward  four  days,  continually  ha- 
rassed by  the  enemy.  At  length  they  crossed  the  Tigris,  upon  floats 
of  skins  fastened  together. — Zosimus,  p.  89. 

*  All  the  elephants  of  course  fell  into  the  hands  of  Severus,  on  the  overthrow  of 
Julian. 


RR  2 


308 


CHAPTER  X. 


Of  Roman  Amphitheatres,  remains  of  which  exist  in  Britain  

Italy  France — — Spain  •Sicily  Greece  — — Syria 

 and  other  Countries. 

CHAP.    JWeTELLUS  brought  to  Rome,  from  the  Sicilian  war,  one  hundred 

X.  & 
^-v^  and  twenty  elephants,  which  he  had  taken  from  Jugurtha.  These 

were  the  first  that  were  introduced  into  the  Circus,  in  the  year  251 
before  Christ*.  From  this  period,  the  passion  for  public  exhibitions, 
and  combats  of  wild  beasts,  spread  not  only  in  Italy,  but  throughout 
the  JRoman  empire,  in  all  the  provinces.  Such  was  the  general  rage, 
that  scarcely  a  fixed  military  station  was  without  its  circus  or  amphithe- 
atre of  turf  or  timber. 

The  size  and  form  of  the  Circus,  with  the  lists  and  goals,  being  found 
inconvenient,  Caesar  introduced  the  elliptic  shape ;  and  henceforth  these 
buildings  were  named  "  theatrum  venatorium,"  or  theatre  for  hunting; 

*  The  first  permanent  Circus  (called  Maximus)  was  built  by  Tarquinius  Pris- 
cus  between  the  Aventine  and  the  Palatine  hills:  it  was  enlarged  by  Julius  Caesar, 
Claudius,  and  Nero,  when  it  contained  two  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  spectators: 
it  was  further  increased  by  Hadrian,  Constantine,  and  his  son  Constans.  Many 
others  were  built  of  different  sizes.  The  most  perfect  remains  are  those  of  the 
small  circus,  built  by  Caracalla,  capable  of  holding  eighteen  thousand  people. — ■ 
See  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Circus." 


AMPHITHEATRES.  30 

but,  from  their  superior  accommodations,  they  were  likewise  used  for  the  CHAP. 

X 

combats  of  gladiators.  They  however,  continued  to  be  called  Circus  v^^X* 
as  often  as  Amphitheatre,  and  the  other  names. 

Some  were  little  more  than  natural  valleys,  with  benches  cut  in  the 
declivity  of  surrounding  hills :  others  were  elliptical  excavations,  with 
benches  of  turf,  like  that  near  Sandwich,  in  Kent ;  some  were  partly 
excavated,  and  partly  constructed  with  masonry,  like  the  amphitheatre 
at  Caerleon  in  Britain.  There  were  also  amphitheatres  constructed  to 
hold  water,  for  the  combats  of  aquatic  and  amphibious  animals. 

Those  built  with  timber  were  raised  and  taken  down  as  occasion  re- 
quired. Vespasian's  amphitheatre  is  said,  by  Cassiodorus,  to  have  cost 
as  much  to  build  as  a  capital  city :  and  Martial  relates,  that,  from  every 
part  of  the  empire,  the  Roman  world  crowded  to  the  capital  to  be  pre- 
sent at  these  grand  games.  Many  vestiges  of  amphitheatres  still  re- 
main, and  have  been  discovered  in  the  following  countries : — 

In  Italy. — At  Rome,  Capua,  Fidene*,  Placentia,  Verona,  Aoustaf, 
Alba,  Otriculi,  Gariglio,  Puzzuoli,  Paestum,  Cassino,  Mola,  Canusium. 
Lavinia  %, 

France.— At  Aries,  Orange §,  Autun,  Treves ||,  Paris**  Nismes, 
Bourdeau. 

Spain. — At  Italica,  (Seville). 

*  A  few  miles  north  of  Rome;  this  theatre  fell  in  the  reign  of  Tiberius.  Fifty 
thousand  persons  were  killed  or  maimed. — Tacitus,  Annal.  IV. 
f  Rees's  Cyclop. 
%  See  Bernard,  Vol.  I.  p.  185. 

§  Civitas  Aurensis,  called  Colonia  Secundanorum.  The  second  legion  were 
settled  here.  An  amphitheatre  is  still  to  be  seen  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Arausio." 

i|  After  the  victory  of  Constantine  the  Great  over  the  Franks  and  the  Allemanni 
several  of  their  princes  were,  by  his  order,  exposed  to  the  wild  beasts  in  the  Amphi- 
theatre at  Treves  (then  the  capital  of  Gaul).— Gibbon,  Ch.  XIV. 

**  Gibbon,  Ch.  XIX.  p.  177. 


310  AMPHITHEATRE  AT  DORCHESTER. 

CHAP        Britain— At  Richborough,  Caerleon,  Silchester,  Dorchester,  and 

A. 

^*-v^»^  other  places. 

Sicily. — At  Catanea,  Agrigentum,  Syracuse. 
Greece.— At  Argos,  Corinth. 
Candia. — At  Gortina  and  Gerapitna. 

At  Pola  in  Istria.  At  Delos,  Ephesus,  Chisico,  Heraclea,  Jerusalem, 
Caesarea.    The  two  last  were  built  by  Herod  * 

"  Maiden  Castle  is  the  most  entire  and  prodigious  work  in  England, 
and,  passing  for  a  Roman  stationary  camp,  it  is  surrounded  by  two  pro- 
digious ditches,  to  which  all  I  ever  saw  are  trifles ;  and  at  the  entrance 
their  number  is  increased  by  several  others,  and  the  way  cunningly 
blinded  by  divisions.  About  the  like  distance  to  the  north  of  the  way 
is  a  piece  of  ground,  called  Pomeroy,  (Pomcerium,  as  I  suppose),  which 
has  in  it  also  a  large  square,  inclosed  with  a  high  bank,  but  without 
any  ditch :  on  the  outside  there  is  a  raised  area,  about  ten  yards  broad, 
which  shews  its  design  could  not  be  military.  On  the  south  side, 
about  a  furlong  from  Dorchester,  is  a  place  called  Maumbury,  being 
about  an  acre,  inclosed  with  a  high  bank,  which  is  a  very  pretty  and 
entire  amphitheatre  f." 

The  Roman  Amphitheatre,  close  by  the  Roman  road,  and  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  Dorchester,  is  the  most  perfect  structure  of  its  kind 
remaining  in  England.  It  was  first  publicly  noticed  by  Sir  Christo- 
pher Wren,  and  is  described  by  Dr.  Stukeley,  in  his  Itinerarium  Cu- 
riosum.  It  is  raised  upon,  and  was  probably  framed  of,  solid  chalk, 
cemented  by  mortar  of  burnt  chalk;    and  covered  with  turf.  Its 


*  SeeRecVs  Encyc.  "Amphitheatre;"  Le  Bruyn's  Travels;  Dr.  Stukeley's 
Itinerarium  Curiosum;  and  Encyc.  Brit. 

t  Hutchins.    Antiquities  of  Dorset,  Vol.  II.  p.  172. 


AMPHITHEATRE  AT  SILCHESTER. 


311 


greatest  height  above  the  level  of  the  arena  was  thirty  feet ;  the  ex-  CHAP, 
ternal  greatest  diameter  three  hundred  and  forty-three  feet  six  inches : 
the  external  shortest  diameter,  three  hundred  and  thirty-nine  feet  six 
inches :  the  internal  longest  diameter  two  hundred  and  eighteen  feet : 
the  internal  shortest  diameter  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  feet  six 
inches.  The  number  of  spectators  which  it  was  capable  of  accommo- 
dating is  computed  to  be  twelve  thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixty  *. 

"  With  respect  to  the  games  here  practised,  we  may  suppose  them 
much  the  same  as  those  used  at  Rome  and  other  places,  with  relation 
to  hunting  and  fighting  with  wild  beasts  f .  Among  other  shows  and 
diversions  of  beasts,  we  may  safely  imagine  that  our  British  bull-dogs 
bore  a  part,  since  the  Romans  trained  them  for  the  Italian  amphi- 
theatres. 

In  these  parts  of  Britain,  Vespasian  fought  thirty  battles  with  the 
Britons  J."  In  the  quarto  volume,  describing  the  theatre,  Dr.  Stuke- 
ley  conjectures  that  Vespasian  had  this  theatre  built  in  order- to  flat- 
ter and  amuse  the  vanquished. 

"  At  Silchester,  in  Hampshire,  there  is  an  amphitheatre,  in  bulk  and 
shape  and  all  points  the  same  as  that  at  Dorchester ;  but  not  built  of 
such  solid  materials,  for  it  is  chiefly  clay  and  gravel.  Eastward,  to- 
wards the  road,  there  is  a  pit ;  there,  it  is  sixty  feet  high  on  the  out- 
side. 

The  whole  arena  within  is  now  covered  with  water  about  three 
feet  deep :  the  bottom  must  be  very  solid  to  contain  the  water  so  many 
years :  it  is  a  most  noble  and  beautiful  concave,  and  has,  for  time  im- 

*  Rees's  Encyc.  "  Dorchester." 

f  At  Frampton  in  Dorsetshire,  extensive  and  very  elegant  Mosaic  pavements 
(published  by  S.  Lysons,  1807),  were  discovered,  which  represent  horses,  deer, 
leopards,  and  other  animals. 

$  Dr.  Stukeley,  Vol.  I.  p.  165  to  175.    See  Ch.  XIII. 


312 


AMPHITHEATRE  AT  CAERLEON. 


CHAP,    memorial,  been  a  yard  for  cattle,  and  a  watering-pond*.    There  is  an 

X. 

**~v~m*S  ascent  to  it  on  the  entrance  side,  that  being  upon  the  lowest  ground : 
at  the  upper  end,  the  level  of  the  ground  is  not  much  below  the  top 
of  the  terrace,  and  vastly  above  that  of  the  arena;  so  that  I  conceive 
the  better  sort  of  people  went  that  way  directly  from  the  city  into 
their  seats:  there  is  such  a  gap,  too,  in  that  part  (from  the  ruin  of  the 
cave)  where  the  wild  beasts  were  kept.  Surveying  the  whole,  could 
not  but  put  me  in  mind  of  that  piece  of  Roman  magnificence,  when  the 
emperors  caused  great  trees  to  be  taken  up  by  the  roots  and  plant- 
ed in  the  amphitheatres  and  circuses,  pro  tempore,  to  imitate  forests 
wherein  they  hunted  beasts,  which  is  here  presented  in  pure  nature  f." 
This  amphitheatre  appears  to  have  contained  five  rows  or  terraces  for 
spectators  %. 


At  Caerleon  is  an  oval  concavity,  seventy-four  by  sixty-four  yards, 
and  six  yards  in  depth,  without  doubt  the  site  of  a  Roman  amphithea- 
tre. Within  the  memory  of  persons  now  living,  stone  seats  were  dis- 
covered on  opening  the  sides  of  the  concavity:  and  in  1706  a  figure  of 
Diana,  with  her  tresses  and  crescent  moulded  in  alabaster,  was  found 
in  this  place.  Caerleon  (Isca  Silurum)  as  described  by  Gyraldus 
Cambrensis,  contained  remains  of  splendid  palaces,  a  gigantic  tower, 
numerous  baths,  ruins  of  a  temple,  and  a  theatre,  the  walls  of  which 
are  partly  standing,  aqueducts,  vaulted  caverns,  stoves,  tessellated 
pavements,  bricks  inscribed  "  Leg.  II.  Aug."  an  altar  to  the  Emperor 
Aurelius  Antonius,  another  to  Jupiter  Dolichenius  as  the  patron  of 
iron  mines,  statues,  coins,  inscriptions,  Sec.  §. 

*  When  the  hunting-  was  concluded  in  Vespasian's  amphitheatre,  the  arena  was 
suddenly  filled  with  water,  in  which  aquatic  animals  were  made  to  contend. 
Rees's  Cyc.  "  Aiiiph."  This  refers  to  Rome;  but  it  strengthens  the  conjecture, 
that  the  amphitheatre  at  Silchester  was  built  by  Vespasian. 

t  Dr.  Stukeley,  Vol.  I.  p.  178.  J  Rees's  Encyc.    "  Silchester." 

§  Rees's  Encyc.  "  Caerleon."    Cox's  Tour  in  Monmouthshire. 


AMPHITHEATRE  AT  RICHBOROUGH.— AT  YORK?  313 

"  Upon  an  eminence  at  Richborough  castle,  is  the  (brick)  carcass  Cl^P" 
of  a  castrensian  amphitheatre  made  of  turf,  I  suppose  for  the  exercise  v^-y^y 
and  diversion  of  the  garrison;  the  soil  of  it  is  gravel  and  sand,  and  has 
been  long  so  ploughed  over  that  we  need  not  wonder  it  is  so  level  *." 

The  reader  will  form  his  own  conclusion,  whether  the  following  was 
an  amphitheatre :  "  I  saw,"  says  Pennant,  "  for  the  first  time,  the 
path  of  Helen,  (Merioneth),  a  road  supposed  to  have  been  made  by 
Helena,  wife  of  the  British  Emperor  Maximus.  There  are  tumuli 
here,  and  five  urns  were  found.  Not  far  from  Llyn  Rathlin,  is  a  very 
fine  Roman  camp  and  vestiges  of  a  wall  and  ditch.  Coins  and  urns 
are  frequent  here :  the  path  of  Helen  runs  into  it.  At  a  small  distance 
from  the  camp  is  an  oval  inclosure,  thirty-six  yards  long,  and  twenty- 
seven  wide,  surrounded  by  a  high  mound  of  earth,  and  an  entrance  at 
each  end :  near  one  end  a  part  seemed  to  have  been  divided  off  by  a 
wall,  the  foundations  of  which  still  remain  f ." 

There  must  have  been  either  a  circus,  or  an  amphitheatre  at  or  near 
York.  One  of  the  forerunning  signs  of  Severus's  death,  Spartian  re- 
lates thus :  "  Whilst  the  games  of  the  cirque  were  celebrating,  as  there 
were  three  figures  placed,  according  to  custom,  upon  the  platform 
where  the  emperor's  throne  is,  &c."    See  Ch.  XIII. 

Three  miles  from  Redruth,  in  Cornwall,  there  were  the  remains  of 
an  amphitheatre,  as  Dr.  Stukeley  had  been  told,  with  six  tire  of  seats. 

"  At  Wolvedon,  in  the  parish  of  Probus  near  Lanceston,  where  Ro- 
man coins  have  been  found,  there  is  an  angular  fort  which  has  a  wide 
deep  ditch,  the  outer  edge  of  which  was  faced  upwards,  with  thin 
stones  in  cement;  and  which  had  round  turrets  or  buttresses,  such  as 
Saxons,  Danes,  and  Britons  built  not,  as  far  as  I  can  find.  This  is  very 
singular  in  our  country,  where  most  of  our  ancient  fortifications  are 


*  Dr.  Stukeley,  Vol.1,  p.  125. 

s  s 


f  Tour  in  Wales,  Vol.  II.  p.  103. 


SUPPOSED  AMPHITHEATRES  IN  CORNWALL— AT  CHESELBURY. 

circular,  without  any  projections.  From  the  artful  fence  of  this  ditch, 
as  well  as  from  the  polygon  which  the  whole  forms,  I  guess  it  to  be 
Roman  f. 

Where  these  stone  inclosures  are  circular,  and  distinguished  by  seats 
and  benches  of  like  materials,  they  were,  no  doubt,  constructed  thus 
for  the  convenience  of  spectators  at  plays,  games,  and  festivals.  But, 
as  to  delight  the  eye  more  than  the  ear,  was  most  required,  the  amphi- 
theatrical  form  had  the  preference.  In  these  amphitheatres  of  stone, 
the  Britons  did  usually  assemble  to  hear  plays,  and  see  sports  and  games, 
to  quiet  and  delight  the  people ;  an  institution  very  necessary  in  all 
civil  societies:  these  are  called  with  us  in  Cornwall,  where  we  have 
great  numbers  of  them,  plan  an  guare,  viz,  the  plain  of  sport  and  pas- 
time. 1  he  benches  round,  were  generally  of  turf,  as  Ovid,  talking  of 
these  places  of  sport,  observes. 

We  have  one  whose  benches  are  of  stone,  and  the  most  remarkable 
one  I  have  seen:  it  is  near  the  church  of  St.  Just  Penwith:  an  exact 
circle  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  feet  in  diameter ;  the  height  from 
the  area  within,  now  seven  feet ;  but  from  the  bottom  of  the  ditch 
without,  ten  feet  now,  but  formerly  more.  The  seats  consist  of  six 
steps,  fourteen  inches  wide,  a  foot  high,  with  one  on  the  top  of  all, 
where  the  rampart  is,  seven  feet  wide.  The  plays  were  in  the  Cornish 
language,  the  subjects  from  scripture  J." 

About  a  mile  from  Cheselbury,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Avon,  is  a  cu- 
rious earth  work  supposed  to  be  a  Roman  amphitheatre.  It  is  an 
oval :  the  bank  is  thirty  feet  wide,  the  southern  segment  five  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  in  diameter,  and  seven  hundred  and  twenty  in  compass  §. 

*        #        *  * 


f  Borlace.    Antiquities  of  Cornwall,  p.  313. 
%  Borlace,  B.  IV.  Ch.  VII.  §  Camden,  Vol.  I.  p.  109. 


MAGNIFICENT  AMPHITHEATRE  OF  SCAURUS.  3 

The  most  considerable  antiquity  in  Jebilee  is  the  remains  of  a  noble  CHAP 
theatre.    The  remaining  semicircle  is  a  hundred  yards  in  compass,  and 
there  are  seventeen  windows,  between  which  are  large  massy  pillars, 
eleven  feet  thick,  of  firm  stone,  standing  against  the  wall*. 

We  found  the  ruins  of  an  amphitheatre  at  Puzzeoli;  another  near 
to  Mola,  one  at  Delos  and  a  statue  of  Diana  ; — at  Ephesus  the  ruins  of 
a  circus,  an  amphitheatre,  and  also  ruins  of  the  temple  of  Diana ; — a 
fine  amphitheatre  at  Chisico,  and  the  remains  of  a  noble  one  at  Hera- 
cleaf. 

M.  iEmilius  Scaurus,  to  make  a  strong  impression  on  the  minds  of 
the  people,  chose  (B.  C.  58)  to  build  a  theatre  in  Rome,  which  was 
not  to  be  a  lasting  monument,  like  that  of  Pompey,  but  to  continue 
only  during  the  time  of  his  being  in  office.  The  scenes  and  decora- 
tions were  a  solid  work  of  the  most  valuable  materials.  There  were 
three  orders  of  very  fine  pillars,  raised  one  above  another  to  a  great 
height.  The  first  rank  of  columns,  was  of  rich  marble,  brought  from 
Numidia,  and  thirty-eight  feet  high.  The  second  rank  was  of  crystal, 
an  unusual  thing,  and  never  since  imitated.  The  third  was  of  light 
wood,  very  richly  gilt :  the  heights  were  lessened  in  proper  proportion. 
In  the  places  between  this  forest  of  columns,  stood  three  thousand  sta- 
tues of  brass  upon  suitable  pedestals.  The  seats  held  eighty  thou- 
sand persons. 

The  number  and  magnificence  of  the  habits  of  the  actors,  all  in  the 
eastern  fashion,  were  so  prodigious,  that  this  mad  extravagance  ruined 
Scaurus,  though  very  rich.  The  remains  of  this  building  were  valued 
at  a  hundred  millions  of  little  sesterces  (by  Arbuthnot's  calculation, 
sterling  £807,291 :  13  : 4). 

*  MaundrelPs  Travels  to  Jerusalem,  A.D.  1696„ 
t  Cornelius  Le  Bruyn's  Travels. 

SS2 


316  CROCODILES. — FIVE  THOUSAND  WILD  BEASTS. 

CHAP.       Five  hundred  panthers  were  let  loose  in  the  arena.    Five  crocodiles 
\m^~^m^r  and  a  hippopotamus,  for  the  first  time,  were  shewn  alive.    Scaurus  had 
brought  the  ribs  of  a  whale  from  Joppa,  forty  feet  long*. 

The  amphitheatre  at  Placentia  is  said  to  have  been  the  largest  in 
Italy. 

Vespasian  began,  and  his  son  Titus  finished,  the  Flavian  amphithe- 
atre, called  also  the  Coliseum.  It  is  deservedly  celebrated  as  a  prodigy 
of  building  among  the  antients.  At  the  solemn  games  exhibited  when 
this  theatre  was  dedicated,  five  thousand  wild  beasts,  according  to  Eu- 
tropius ;  nine  thousand,  according  to  Dio,  were  destroyed  on  its 
arena. 

We  learn  from  a  passage  in  St.  Chrysostom  that  the  beasts  intended 
for  the  public  games,  were  kept  in  the  environs  of  cities;  and  Procopi- 
us  makes  particular  mention  of  a  spacious  place  in  Rome  called  the 
Vivarium,  appropriated  to  that  usef. 

Maffei,  in  his  elaborate  treatise,  shews,  that  amphitheatres  of  stone 
were  not  numerous,  few  cities  in  Italy  could  boast  of  them.  Wooden 
ones  were  built  in  several  parts  of  the  empire  J. 

This  will  account for  bones  of  wild  beasts  being  found  in  many  places 
ichere  there  are  no  vestiges  of  amphitheatres. 


*  Catrou,  Vol.  VI.  p.  96.    Pliny,  Lib.  XXXVI. 
f  Rees's  Encyc.    "  Amphitheatre."  $  See  Keysler's  Travels. 


317 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Sports  and  Combats  in  the  Circus  and  Amphitheatre ;  in  which 

were  slain,  Elephants  Rhinoceroses  Hippopotami  

Bears          Lions  Tigers  Hycenas  Camelopards 

Crocodiles  Ostriches,  fyc.in  surprising  numbers.  Grand 

Triumphal  Processions  at  Rome.  Chariots  drawn  by  tamed 

Lions,  Leopards,  Tigers,  Orixes  *  with  one  horn,  Stags,  fyc. 

So  general  was  the  passion  for  these  diversions,  that  scarcely  any 
camp  or  military  station  was  without  them.  The  people  chose  rather 
to  live  on  bread  and  water  in  Rome,  than  lose  these  sights. 

Every  savage  animal  that  could  be  procured  in  the  forests  of  Asia 
or  Africa,  was  brought  to  be  hunted:  no  cost  was  spared  to  fetch 
them.    The  shows  were  designed  for  the  honour  of  Diana  f. 

"  All  that  with  potent  teeth  command  the  plain, 
All  that  run  horrid  with  erected  mane ; 
Or  proud  of  stately  horns  or  bristling  hair, 
At  once  the  forest's  ornament  and  fear; 

*  Spelt  also  oryx,  oryges. 

f  Rees's  "  Amph."  See  Kennett,  Part  II.  B.  V.  Ch.  II.  from  which  several  of 
these  extracts  are  taken. 


CHAP. 
XI. 


318 


WILD  AND  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS  SLAIN. 


CHAP. 
XI. 


Torn  from  their  deserts  by  the  Roman  power, 
Nor  strength  can  save,  nor  craggy  dens  secure." 


* 


 "  Part  in  laden  vessels  came, 

Borne  on  the  rougher  waves,  or  gentler  stream; 
The  fainting  slave  let  fall  his  trembling  oar; 
And  the  pale  master  feared  the  freight  he  boref.': 


Sometimes  animals  were  presented  merely  as  strange  sights  and  rari- 
ties ;  such  as  crocodiles  and  outlandish  beasts  and  birds.  Others  for 
combats  or  slaughter.  For  these  purposes  were  introduced  elephants, 
rhinoceroses,  hippopotami,  camelopards,  zebras,  lions,  tigers,  leo- 
pards, panthers,  bears,  hyaenas,  ostriches,  stags  and  deer  of  every  kind, 
hares,  and  such  like.    There  were  three  kinds  of  diversions. 

I.  When  the  people  were  allowed  to  seize  and  secure  what  they 
could,  for  their  own  use,  as  deer,  hares,  sheep,  boars,  oxen,  and  all 
kinds  of  birds.  A  natural  forest  being  represented  by  trees  trans- 
planted into  the  circus  or  amphitheatre,  the  beasts  were  let  in  from 
their  dens ;  and,  at  a  sign  given  by  the  Emperor,  the  people  fell  to 
hunting  the  animals;  and  each  carried  away  what  he  killed.  Tablets, 
or  tickets,  (tessera),  were  previously  scattered  among  the  multitude, 
entitling  those  who  caught  them  to  the  animals  inscribed  upon  them : 
they  were  termed  Missilia. 

II.  The  combats  of  beasts  admitted  of  great  sport  and  variety. 
Sometimes  an  elephant  was  matched  with  a  bull,  a  rhinoceros  with 
a  bear,  a  lion  with  a  tiger,  a  bull  with  a  lion.    And  deer  were  hunted 


f  Claudian. 


i    DIFFERENT  MODES  OF  COMBATING. 

round  the  arena  by  a  pack  of  dogsf .  But  the  most  wonderful  sight 
was  when,  by  converting  the  arena  into  a  lake,  huge  aquatic  animals, 
crocodiles,  &c.  were  introduced  to  combat  with  wild  beasts.  At  the 
Games  of  Carinus  %,  says  Calphurnius,  Eel.  VII. 

Not  only  did  I  see  wood-monsters  there, 

But  sea-calves  also  tugging  with  the  bear. 

And  that  misshapen  ugly  beast  withal, 

Which  we,  not  without  cause,  the  sea-horse  call§. 

III.  Men  engaged  with  wild  beasts,  and  had  the  common  name  of 
Bestiarii.  The  vilest  malefactors  were  doomed  to  such  combats. 
Others  hired  themselves  at  a  set  pay,  like  the  gladiators,  and  had  their 
schools,  where  they  were  instructed  in  such  conflicts.  Some  of  the 
nobility  and  gentry  voluntarily  undertook  a  part  in  these  encounters. 
Even  the  softer  sex  was  infected  with  t\iv& fancy. 

Sometimes,  with  naked  breast,  the  sturdy  w**** 
Shakes  the  broad  spear  against  the  Tuscan  boar||. 


319 


CHAP. 
XI. 


*         *         *  * 

The  safety  of  the  combatants  consisted  in  nimbly  turning  and  leap- 
ing, to  elude  their  adversaries,  while  they  assailed  them  with  darts  and 
spears:  one  man  has  been  known  to  kill  twenty  animals  let  in  upon 

t  British  bull-dogs,  mastiffs,  and  beagles,  were  exported  to  Rome."__Dr.  Hen- 
ry, "  Hist,  of  Eng." 

t  Carinus  was  governor  of  Britain  and  other  provinces  during  the  absence  of  his 
father  in  the  East —  Augustan  Hist.  "  Carinus." 

§  Hippopotamus.    See  Gibbon,'  Cb.  XII.  n.  88.    Hakewill,  446. 

II  Juvenal,  Sat.  I. 


VARIETY  OF  WILD  BEASTS  TAMED. 

him  at  once.  The  beasts,  however,  were  in  general  successful;  and 
were  therefore  commonly  despatched  by  missile  weapons  thrown  from 
the  higher  parts  of  the  amphitheatre,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  animals ; 
and  usually  in  one  show  three  or  four  hundred  were  thus  slain. 

*        *        *  * 

The  Greeks  and  Romans  tamed  wild  beasts.  In  the  procession  of 
Ptolemy  Philadelphia  at  Alexandria,  twenty-four  chariots  were 
drawn  by  elephants,  twelve  by  lions,  seven  by  orixes,  five  by  buffaloes, 
eight  by  ostriches,  four  by  wild  asses,  &c.  Upon  the  neck  of  one  of 
the  elephants,  was  mounted  a  satyr  with  a  crown  of  gold :  the  ele- 
phant had  a  harness  of  gold,  and  wore  about  his  neck  a  garland,  in 
shape  resembling  ivy  leaves,  but  made  of  gold. 

There  were  Indian  women,  camels  laden  with  cinnamon,  and  tusks 
of  six  hundred  elephants.  There  were  twenty-six  white  oxen  from 
India,  twenty-four  thousand  Indian  dogsf,  curious  birds,  a  hundred 
and  thirty  Ethiopian,  and  three  hundred  Arabian  sheep ;  four  lynxes, 
fourteen  leopards,  sixteen  panthers,  three  brown  bears,  a  white  bear, 
one  camelopardalis,  and  one  Ethiopian  rhinoceros. 

*         *         *  * 

Gordian  possessed,  as  Capitolinus  informs  us,  sixty  lions  and  thirty 
leopards,  tamed  J. 

f  The  sovereign  had  so  immense  a  number  of  Indian  dogs,  that  four  great  towns 
in  the  vicinity  of  Babylon  were  exempted  from  all  other  tax,  but  that  of  maintaining 
them,  Herodotus,  Clio,  CXCI.  This  alludes  to  the  period  of  Cyrus.  A  note 
says,  the  antients  believed  these  dogs,  which  were  very  celebrated,  to  be  produced 
from  a  bitch  and  a  tiger.    Bajazet  had  twelve  thousand  dog-keepers.  See  Ch.  IV. 

J  Monfaucon,  Vol.  III.  p.  179;  and  Bruce's  Travels,  Vol.  I.  p.  458.    The  above 


320 


CHAP. 
XI. 


CHARIOTS  DRAWN  BY  LIONS— TIGERS— UNICORNS. 


*  *  *  * 

The  chariots  of  the  -Romans  were  drawn  by  elephants :  they  had 
sometimes  two,  and  sometimes  four;  and  frequently,  when  they  had 
towers  upon  their  backs,  they  at  the  same  time  drew  one  of  those  lit- 
tle chariots  which  were  used  for  racing  in  the  circus .  These  towers 
they  generally  put  upon  the  backs  of  single  elephants,  both  for  war- 
fare and  travelling,  as  they  do  at  this  day  in  Persia  and  India. 

*  *        *  * 

The  Romans  were  drawn  by  camels ;  and  Pliny  tells  us- that  Mark  An- 
tony made  use  of  lions.  Heliogabalus  did  the  same ;  and  also  of  boars, 
stags,  wild  asses,  bisontes,  and  oryges,  a  sort  of  animal  with  one  horn, 
which  Ptolemy,  according  to  Athenseus,  drew  his  carriage  with  f . 

#         *        #  * 

Heliogabalus  ran  a  race  with  four  chariots,  each  drawn  by  four  ele- 
phants, being  himself  the  driver:  and  another  race,  with  as  many 
camels.  He  appeared  at  other  times  drawn  by  four  great  dogs,  or 
four  large  stags ;  sometimes  by  lions,  sometimes  by  tigers.    He  had 

Ptolemy  possessed  two  hundred  millions  sterling  (see  Lempriere).  When  Egypt 
was  conquered  by  Augustus,  all  the  treasures  of  that  country  were  transferred  to 
Rome.  (Montesquieu,  Grandeur  des  Remains,  Ch.  XVII).  Nothing  could  be 
easier  than  for  the  Romans  to  procure  the  same  kinds  of  animals,  and  in  any  num- 
bers, with  the  riches  of  Egypt, 
t  Montfaucou,  Vol.  IV.  p.  125. 


T  T 


LITTLE  DRAGONS.— CROCODILES.— HIPPOPOTAMI. 


hippopotami,  a  crocodile,  a  rhinoceros,  little  dragons,  and  all  the  strange 
beasts  of  Egypt,  which  could  be  transported  f . 

*         *        *  * 

Hippopotami  were  often  exhibited.  Scaurus,  B.C.  58,  introduced 
one  with  some  crocodiles,  for  the  first  time ;  Augustus  one ;  Commodus 
produced  five;  Carinus  many;  besides  Heliogabalus,  Gordian,  and 
others.  Teeth  of  the  hippopotamus  attain  the  weight  of  thirteen 
pounds.  "  Pausanius  parle  d'une  statue  de  deesse  dont  la  face  etoit 
faite  de  ces  dents 


Elephants  were  first  introduced  into  the  circus  by  Metellus,  (before 
Christ,  251)  who  captured  above  a  hundred  and  twenty  from  the  Car- 
thaginians, at  the  battle  of  Palermo.  The  Romans,  about  fifty  years 
afterwards,  first  employed  elephants  in  their  war  with  Philip  king  of 
Macedon,  at  the  battle  of  Lycus  §.  In  order  to  show  the  Romans 
the  nature  of  elephants,  when  they  first  began  to  use  them  in  warfare, 
a  considerable  number  were  driven  through  the  circus,  by  a  few  slaves 
armed  only  with  blunt  javelins  ||. 

*        *        *  # 

f  Lainpridius,  vide  Bernard,  Vol.  I.  p.  382.  The  little  dragon,  whatever  it 
was,  if  found,  might  be  thought  to  be  of  an  extinct  species. 

$  See  Cuvier,  Theorie  de  la  Terre,  et  Ossemens  Fossiles.  Rees's  Encyc.  "  Hip- 
popotamus." 

§  Livy,  B.  XXXI. 

||  Gibbon,  Cb.  XII.  The  Romans  appear  at  length  to  have  tamed  elephants 
with  as  much  skill  as  the  Asiatics.  In  the  reign  of  Nero  a  distinguished  Roman 
knight  rode  along  a  rope  upon  an  elephant.    Suetonius,  "  Nero."  Ch.  XI. 


COMBATS  OF  MEN  AND  LIONS.  323 

Cornelius  Scipio  Nasica  and  C.  Lentulus,  were  the  first  who  intro-  C*JAP. 

XI. 

duced  combats  between  beasts  and  armed  men.  There  were  sixty- 
three  lions,  forty  bears,  and  a  great  number  of  elephants  let  loose  in 
the  circus.  These  were  bloody  battles,  but  the  Romans  delighted  in 
bloodshed.  They  thereby  kept  up  that  martial  spirit,  which  made 
them  superior  to  all  other  nations  f . 

*        *        *  * 

In  the  year  B.C.  168,  there  were  shown  to  the  people  above  sixty 
ostriches,  and  a  great  number  of  elephants  and  bears  %. 

In  the  procession  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  a  chariot  was  drawn  by 
two  elephants ;  and  thirty-six  followed  promiscuously :  and  there  were 
eight  hundred  elephants'  tusks. 

***** 

Besides  that,  Sylla  bought  the  suffrages  of  the  Romans  at  a  dear 
rate;  he  gratified  them  with  a  new  and  splendid  show.  Bocchus, 
king  of  Mauritania,  sent  him  a  hundred  lions,  and  some  Maurita- 
nians,  who  were  accustomed  to  fight  them.  It  was  a  double  pleasure 
to  see  them  let  loose  upon  men  armed  with  spears,  who  knew  how 
to  avoid  their  attacks,  and  were  very  expert  in  striking  them.  This 
entertainment  was  thought  afterwards  to  contribute  as  much  towards 
Sylla's  promotion,  as  either  his  reputation  or  his  exploits  §. 

f  Livy,  B.  XLIV.    Catrou,  IV.  p.  416.  %  Catrou,  IV.  p.  439. 

§  Catrou,  Vol.  V.  p.  315. 
T  T  2 


FURIOUS  ELEPHANTS. — TERRIFIED  ASSEMBLY. 

*  *  *  * 

Pompey  brought  a  number  of  elephants  from  Africa,  which  he  had 
captured  in  that  country.  He  gave  directions  that  his  chariot  should 
be  drawn  by  four  elephants :  but  the  arch  not  being  wide  enough  for 
them  to  pass  abreast,  he  was  forced  to  be  content  with  horses  as 
usual. 

At  the  opening  of  his  theatre,  Pompey  exhibited  a  variety  of  games, 
and  battles  with  wild  beasts :  in  which  five  hundred  lions  were  slain  in 
five  days.  Eighteen  elephants  fought  with  one  another,  then  with 
gladiators;  and,  lastly,  with  Getulian  archers,  who  were  hunters  of 
wild  elephants.  Some  were  killed,  when  the  survivors  grew  mad, 
and  made  terrible  and  furious  efforts  to  break  the  iron  grating  which 
separated  them  from  the  spectators.  Fear  seized  the  assembly.  It 
was  soon  turned  into  compassion  for  the  poor  animals.  The  elephants 
lifted  up  their  trunks  to  heaven,  as  if  to  call  on  the  Gods  to  witness 
the  perfidiousness  of  men :  and  the  people  concluded  that  they  had 
been  forced  on  board  ship,  after  a  promise  that  their  lives  should  be 
saved:  for  the  Romans  fancied  that  elephants  had  reason,  and  under- 
stood the  language  of  men,  though  they  could  not  answer  them.  This 
accident  was  the  cause  of  Caesar's  invention  of  the  amphitheatre; 
which  was  more  convenient  than  the  circus,  and  not  exposed  to  such 
dangers  f . 

*  *        *  * 

Julius  Caesar,  in  his  third  consulship,  exhibited  forty  elephants. 
Twenty  were  opposed  to  five  hundred  combatants  on  foot.  And 


324 


f  Plutarch, "  Pompey."  Livy,B.VIII.  Catrou,  Vol.  V.  p.469;  Vol. VI.  p.  127. 


CHACE  OF  CROCODILES,— INDIAN  AMBASSADORS. 

twenty,  with  turrets  upon  their  backs,  sixty  men  being  allowed  to 

defend  each  turret,  were  engaged  with  five  hundred  horse  and  as 
many  foot  |. 

*        *        *  * 

Augustus  indulged  the  people  with  the  killing  of  thirty-six  croco- 
diles, which  were  chased  in  the  Flaminian  circus  J. 

Augustus,  when  at  Samos,  received  an  embassy  from  Pandion  and 
Porus,  kings  of  the  Indies,  to  conclude  the  treaty  of  alliance  already 
begun  by  other  Indian  ambassadors,  who  had  met  the  Emperor  at 
Tarragon  .in  Spain.  These  ambassadors  had  been  four  years  on  their 
journey.  They  had  a  letter  from  Porus,  written  in  Greek,  in  which 
he  boasted  of  his  having  commanded  over  six  hundred  kings.  They 
presented  to  Augustus  pearls,  jewels,  elephants,  tigers,  (which  last 
had  never  yet  been  seen  by  the  Romans)  §  ;  a  serpent,  twelve  cubits 
long;  a  river  turtle,  three  cubits  long;  vipers  of  a  prodigious  size, 
(cobra  de  capello?);  and  a  partridge  larger  than  a  vulture,  (probably  a 
florikin,  or  bustard).  An  Indian  philosopher,  who  came  with  the  am- 
bassadors, accompanied  Augustus  to  Athens,  where  he  was  initiated 

t  Kennet,  p.  268.    Pliny,  B.  VIII.  Ch.  VII. 

%  Dion  Cassius,  B.  LV.  No  one  in  modern  times  would  incur  the  expense  of 
bringing  large  crocodiles  and  other  animals  from  Egypt,  such  sports  not  being  a 
mode  of  courting  popularity.  Augustus  brought  such  immense  treasures  from 
Alexandria,  that  the  interest  of  money  fell,  and  the  price  of  land  rose  considerably; 
the  expenditure  was  therefore  not  worth  considering.  See  Suetonius,  Aug. 
Ch.  XLI. 

§  This  is  a  strong  confirmation  of  there  not  being  tigers  in  Africa  ;  and  that  the 
animal  named  by  Adamson  "Tiger"  in  Senegal  is  a  leopard:  the  latter  being  call- 
ed Tigers,  in  Morocco,  according  to  Chenier,  Vol.  I.  p.  171. 


326  A  HERD  OF  ELEPHANTS  IN  THE  RUTULIAN  FOREST. 

CHAP,    in  the  mysteries  of  Ceres :  immediately  after  which,  he  caused  a  fune- 
^^y^j  ral  pile  to  be  erected ;  and,  after  rubbing  himself  with  oil,  he,  with  a 
smiling  countenance,  leaped  naked  into  the  midst  of  the  flames.  His 
name  was  Zarmanochegas,  he  was  a  native  of  Bargosa  f . 

#  #        *  # 

There  was  a  combat  in  which  Nero's  guards  on  horseback,  shot 
with  arrows  four  hundred  bears,  and  three  hundred  lions  j. 

*        *        *  * 

Many  persons  have  seen  Domitian  kill  a  hundred  wild  beasts  at  his 
seat  at  Alba ;  and  strike  his  arrows  into  their  heads,  with  such  dexteri- 
ty, that  he  would,  at  two  discharges  of  his  bow,  plant  as  it  were,  a  pair 
of  horns  upon  them. 

He  also  entertained  the  people  with  the  chase  of  wild  beasts  and 
combats  of  gladiators,  even  in  the  night  time,  by  the  light  of  lamps  §. 

"  Domitian  transported  into  Italy  numbers  of  elephants;  and  a  herd 
of  them  might  be  seen  in  the  Rutulian  forest,  near  Lavinium,  where 
Turnus,  king  of  the  Rutuli,  reigned:  the  country  was  called  Etru- 
ria|[." 

#  #        #  * 

Only  on  the  birth-days  of  Hadrian  a  thousand  wild  beasts  were  al- 
ways slain  in  the  shows,  which  is  mentioned  as  a  mark  of  his  prudence 
and  moderation  f  f . 

#  *        *  * 


f  Crevier,  "  Augustus."  J  Dion,  Nero.        §  Suetonius,  Domitian. 

||  Madan's  Juvenal,  Sat.  XII.  Notes,  105,  106.       ft  Bernard,  Vol.  I.  p.  49. 


MEN  FENCE  WITH  ELEPHANTS. 

The  Roman  people  were  exceedingly  delighted  with  Claudius  and 
with  Nero,  who  gave  them  combats  between  single  elephants  and  ex- 
perienced fencers. 

*  *        *  * 

Eutropius,  Suetonius,  and  Cassiodorus,  say  five  thousand  (Dion  Cas- 
sius  asserts  that  nine  thousand)  wild  beasts,  of  all  kinds,  were  slaugh- 
tered in  the  amphitheatre  of  Titus,  at  the  dedication  of  itf. 

*  *        *  * 

The  Emperor  Severus  commanded  a  golden  statue  of  Pertinax  to 
be  brought  into  the  circus  upon  a  chariot  drawn  by  elephants: 
and  three  golden  thrones  to  be  erected  to  his  honour  in  the  other 
theatres. 

Severus  sent  some  officers  into  the  islands  of  the  red  sea  to  fetch 
horses  consecrated  to  the  sun,  and  resembling  tigers  J. 

On  the  return  of  Severus  from  Arabia  and  Egypt,  in  the  tenth  year 
of  his  reign,  at  the  games,  sixty  wild-boars  fought  with  each  other. 
An  elephant,  a  crocota,  bears,  lions,  ostriches,  wild  asses,  and 
foreign  bulls;  in  all,  seven  hundred  beasts  were  killed  with  darts. 

Three  hundred  were  domestic  animals.  The  other  four  hundred 
were  enclosed  in  a  large  ship,  built  in  the  amphitheatre,  from  which 
they  were  let  out  all  at  once.  This  show  was  in  the  name  of  Cara- 
calla.  Sever us's  triumph  was  celebrated  at  York.  See  Ch.  XIII.  and 
the  medal,  Plate  I.  A  1% 

t  Keysler's  Travels,  Letter  LV. 

X  Tfley  were  probably  the  Equus  Zebra  or  Quagga,  which  is  a  nearer  re- 
semblance of  the  tiger. 


327 


GUESTS  TERRIFIED  BY  LIONS,  BEARS,  AND  PANTHERS. 
On  another  occasion,  tigers  were  shot  with  darts  f. 

*         *         #  % 

Heliogabalus  gave  the  people  a  combat  of  forty  bears  against  as 
many  other  beasts  of  Africa.  During  the  excessive  heat,  they  made 
use  of  the  diribitorium  for  sports  and  combats,  instead  of  the  theatre. 
In  one  day  five  hundred  bears  were  killed  in  a  combat  with  as  many 
other  beasts  from  Africa  %. 

#        *        *  * 

Heliogabalus  is  said  to  have  had  six  hundred  ostriches  slaugh- 
tered in  one  day,  in  order  that  he  might  have  the  brains  served  up 
as  a  dish,  to  pamper  his  appetite  §.  This  immense  number  would 
appear  quite  incredible,  did  we  not  suppose  that  ostriches  were 
formerly,  as  they  are  said  to  be  at  present,  kept  and  bred  in  Africa. 

f  Dion.  There  is  a  part  of  the  skull  with  the  horns  of  a  foreign  bull  in  the  mu- 
seum of  the  Royal  College.  It  was  found  in  Britain.  I  am  tempted  to  conjecture 
that  Severus  introduced  the  wild  bull  of  the  Highlands.  Bulls  were  among  the 
military  rewards  of  the  Romans.  Vide  Encyc.  Brit.  "  Bos."  Rees's  Cyc.  "Bull."  and 
Ch.  XIII.  of  this  Vol.  It  has  been  said,  that  the  Dorking  fowls  were  introduced  by 
the  Romans.    Caracalla  and  Geta  were  great  cock-fighters. 

%  Dion  Cassius,  Heliog  The  diribitorium  was  a  building  in  which  the  soldiers 

were  mustered,  received  their  pay,  &c.  Tt  was  an  immense  place,  and  had  the 
largest  roof  that  had  ever  been  known. 

§  This  capricious  monster  is  said,  by  Lampridius,  to  have  fed  hisltonsand  other 
wild  beasts  with  pheasants  and  parrots,  and  his  dogs  with  the  livers  of  geese.  Al- 
so, that  when  his  company  was  well  in  drink,  he  would  lock  them  up,  and  in  the 
night  let  in  tamed  lions,  bears,  and  panthers,  the  claws  and  teeth  of  which  had 
been  extracted ;  so  that,  when  the  guests  awoke,  they  were  sometimes  struck  dead 
with  fright  Bernard,  Vol.  I.  p.  379. 


328 


BREEDING  OF  BEARS.— OSTRICHES  CARRY  NEGROES. 

We  know  that  bears  were  bred  by  the  Romans.  The  inhabitants  of 
Dara,  Lybia,  Numidia,  and  Bornou,  breed  ostriches,  for  their  flesh,  as 
food,  and  for  their  feathers,  as  merchandise.  It  is  asserted  by  Adan- 
son,  that,  at  the  factory  at  Podore,  he  had  himself  two  ostriches  that 
ran  faster  than  a  race-horse,  each  with  a  negro  upon  his  backf . 

*  *        *  * 

Commodus,  in  the  arena,  intercepted  the  rapid  career,  and  cut  off 
the  long  bony  neck  of  the  ostrich  with  arrows,  whose  points  were 
formed  like  a  crescent.  The  dens  of  the  amphitheatres  disgorged  at 
once  a  hundred  lions,  which  he  laid  dead  by  his  unerring  shafts.  The 
elephant,  the  scaly  rhinoceros,  the  camelopard  of  Ethiopia  and  In- 
dia's most  extraordinary  animals  were  slain  J. 

*  *        *  * 

Commodus,  who  debased  himself  in  every  manner  imaginable,  ap- 
peared in  the  amphitheatre  to  please  his  concubine  Martia,  in  the  ha- 
bit of  an  Amazon,  a  dress  in  which  he  most  admired  that  favourite. 
He  killed  great  numbers  of  gladiators,  who  were  afraid  to  exercise  all 
their  dexterity  or  strength  against  the  Emperor.  The  senate,  even 
when  he  killed  a  lion  or  other  animal,  added  their  applauses  to  those 
of  the  people,  servilely  crying  out,  "  Thou  overcomest  the  world : 
thou  art  the  conqueror,  O  brave  Amazonian!" — De  Serviez,  "Martia." 
Dion,  Book  72. 

*  *        *  * 

f  Rees's  Encyc.  "  Struthio." 
%  Gibbon,  Ch.  IV.  and  note  £4;  and  Bernard,  Vol.  I.  p.  188. 

u  u 


AURELIAN'S  TRIUMPH. — QUEEN  ZENOBIA. 

The  pomp  of  Aurelian's  triumph  was  opened  by  twenty  elephants, 
four  royal  tigers,  and  above  two  hundred  of  the  most  curious  animals 
from  every  climate  of  the  North,  the  East,  and  the  South.  They 
were  followed  by  sixteen  hundred  gladiators  devoted  to  the  cruel 
amusement  of  the  amphitheatre.  The  wealth  of  Asia,  the  arms  and 
ensigns  of  so  many  conquered  nations,  and  the  magnificent  plate  and 
wardrobe  of  Zenobia,  (the  captive  Syrian  Queen),  were  disposed  in  ex- 
act symmetry,  or  artful  disorder.  The  ambassadors  of  Ethiopia,  Ara- 
bia, Persia,  Bactriana,  India,  and  China,  remarkable  by  their  rich  and 
singular  dresses,  displayed  the  fame  and  power  of  the  Roman  Em- 
peror, who  exposed  his  numerous  presents,  and  a  great  number  of 
crowns  of  gold.  Captive  Goths,  Sarmatians,  Syrians,  Egyptians,  and 
others,  reluctantly  attended  his  triumph.  The  title  of  Amazons  was 
bestowed  on  ten  martial  heroines  of  the  Gothic  nation,  who  had  been 
taken  in  arms.  The  beauteous  figure  of  Zenobia  was  confined  by  fet- 
ters of  gold:  a  slave  supported  the  gold  chain  which  encircled  her 
neck;  and  she  almost  fainted  under  the  intolerable  weight  of  jewels. 
She  preceded,  on  foot,  the  magnificent  chariot  in  which  she  once 
hoped  to  enter  the  gates  of  Rome.  It  was  followed  by  two  other  cha- 
riots still  more  sumptuous,  of  Odenathus  and  the  Persian  monarch. 
The  triumphal  ear  of  Aurelian  was  drawn  by  four  stags  or  four  ele- 
phants. The  festival  was  protracted  by  theatrical  representations, 
the  games  of  the  circus,  the  hunting  of  wild  beasts,  combats  of  gladia- 
tors, and  naval  engagements  f. 

*        *        *  * 

The  only  merit  of  Carinus  that  history  could  record,  was  the  un- 


f  Gibbqn,  Ch.  XI. 


3,700  WILD  BEASTS— 1000  OSTRICHES  KILLED. 

common  splendour  with  which,  in  his  own  and  his  brother's  name,  he 
exhibited  the  Roman  games  of  the  theatre,  the  circus,  and  the  amphi- 
theatre. If  we  confine  ourselves  solely  to  the  hunting  of  wild  beasts, 
however  we  may  censure  the  variety  of  the  design,  or  the  cruelty  of  the 
execution,  we  are  obliged  to  confess  that  neither  before  nor  since  the 
time  of  the  Romans,  so  much  art  and  expense  have  ever  been  lavished 
for  the  amusement  of  the  people  f. 

^  Sfe  ^ 

By  the  order  of  Probus,  a  great  number  of  large  trees,  torn  up  by 
the  roots,  were  transplanted  into  the  midst  of  the  circus.  The  spa- 
cious and  shady  forest  was  immediately  filled  with  a  thousand  ostriches, 
a  thousand  stags,  a  thousand  fallow-deer,  and  a  thousand  wild-boars; 
and  all  this  variety  of  game  was  abandoned  to  the  riotous  impetuosity 
of  the  multitude.  The  tragedy  of  the  succeeding  day  consisted  in 
the  massacre  of  a  hundred  lions,  and  an  equal  number  of  lionesses,  (the 
whole  of  which,  entering  the  amphitheatre  at  once,  made  a  roaring- 
like  thunder),  two  hundred  leopards,  and  three  hundred  bears  J. 

#        %        #  # 

The  year  that  Gordian  the  First  was  aedile,  he  entertained  the  people 
of  Rome,  at  his  own  expense,  each  month,  or  twelve  times,  with  public 

t  Gibbon,  Ch.  XII.  Britain  was  one  of  tbe  governments  under  Carinus,  with 
the  full  power  of  Emperor,  during  his  father's  absence  in  the  East.  Augustan  His- 
tory, Carinus. 

t  These  games  were  to  celebrate  the  conquests  of  Probus  in  Germany,  and 
over  the  Africans,  between  Upper  Egypt  and  the  Red  Sea,  Augustan  History, 
Vol.  II.  p.  295. 

TJU2 


331 


CHAP. 
XI. 


332  TWO  HUNDRED  STAGS  HUNTED  BY  BRITONS. 

CHAP,    shows.  He  had  a  hundred  wild  beasts  of  Africa  hunted  in  one  day.  On 
XI. 

^0f-^^j  another  day  a  thousand  hears  f ;  his  sixth  day  is  very  memorable.  There 
were  two  hundred  stout  stags,  hunted  by  Britons;  thirty  wild  horses, 
one  hundred  wild  sheep,  ten  elks,  a  hundred  Cyprian  bulls,  three  hun- 
dred red  Barbary  ostriches,  thirty  wild  asses,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
boars,  two  hundred  wild  goats,  and  two  hundred  deer.  All  these  he 
gave  in  one  day  to  be  hunted,  taken,  and  divided  among  the  people^. 

*  *        *  * 

At  the  decennial  games,  instituted  by  Gallienus  the  First,  he  went 
to  the  capital  in  a  procession  of  the  senators  in  their,  robes,  the  sol- 
diers clad  in  white,  the  people,  many  slaves,  and  the  women  holding 
wax  tapers  and  lamps.  They  were  preceded  by  a  hundred  white  oxen, 
yoked  two  and  two,  with  their  horns  gilt,  and  covered  with  silken 
clothes  of  divers  colours ;  a  hundred  pure  white  lambs,  two  and  two ; 
ten  elephants,  twelve  hundred  gladiators  dressed  in  cloth  embroidered 
with  gold,  such  as  ladies  wear ;  two  hundred  tamed  wild  beasts,  of  se- 
veral kinds,  finely  adorned ;  with  players,  mimics,  and  pugilists.  Gal- 
lienus, in  a  triumphal  gown  and  tunick,  was  accompanied  by  all  the 
priests  in  their  robes.  There  were  five  hundred  spears  of  gold  borne 
on  each  side :  standards,  arms  and  ensigns  of  the  temples,  and  all  the 
legions  §. 

*  *        *  * 

f  Collections  of  bones  of  bears  have  been  found  in  Germany,  at  Gailenreuth,  &c. 
Bears  were  bred  in  former  times,  both  for  food  and  sport.  A  very  few  shows,  such 
as  this  of  Gordian's,  would  produce  an  immense  collection  of  bones:  and  as  the  Ro- 
mans had  bears  from  Numidia,  (see  Beloe's  Herodotus,  Melpomene,  CXCI.  and 
note  188),  they  might,  be  of  a  species  unknown  to  modern  naturalists.  See  also 
Dion  Cassius,  "  Heliogabalus." 

t  Augustan  Hist.  Vol.  II.  p.  38.  §  Augustan  Hist.  Vol.  II.  p.  117. 


ZEBRAS.-CAMELOPARDS.— HYENAS.— TIGERS. 

The  collection  prepared  for  the  younger  Gordian  and  his  triumph, 
and  which  his  successors  exhibited  in  the  secular  games,  was  no  less 
remarkable  by  the  number  than  by  the  singularity  of  the  animals. 
Twenty  zebras  displayed  their  elegant  forms  and  variegated  beauty  to 
the  eyes  of  the  Roman  people.  Ten  elks,  and  as  many  camelopards, 
the  most  harmless  creatures  that  wander  over  the  plains  of  Sarmatia 
and  Ethiopia ;  were  contrasted  with  thirty  African  hyaenas  and  ten 
Indian  tigers,  the  most  implacable  savages  of  the  torrid  zonef .  The 
unoffending  strength  with  which  nature  has  endowed  the  greater 
quadrupeds,  was  admired  in  the  rhinoceros,  the  hippopotamus  of  the 
Nile,  and  a  majestic  troop  of  thirty-two  elephants  J. 

*  *        *  * 

Gratian  enclosed  large  parks  in  Gaul,  one  was  at  Paris;  all  of  them 
plentifully  stocked  with  wild  beasts,  where  he  hunted  and  slew  them§. 

*  *         #  * 

Since  the  first  introduction  of  wild  beasts  into  the  circus,  to  the 
reign  of  Gratian,  is  six  hundred  and  thirty-four  years.  After  this  pe- 
riod these  expensive  amusements  were  probably  discontinued,  the 
Goths  having  invaded  the  empire.  A  more  diligent  search  might,  not- 
withstanding the  poverty  of  history  on  such  subjects,  produce  an  ac- 

t  Tigers  were  at  this  time  procured  from  India,  by' ships  from  the  Red  Sea,  or 
the  Persian  Gulf.  Firmus,  who  assumed  the  purple,  and  kept  possession  of  part  of 
Zenobia's  country,  sent  oftentimes  ships  of  merchandise  into  India.  Bernard, 
Vol.  IT.  p.  304. 

$  Gibbon,  Ch.  XII.  and  Bernard,  Vol.  II.  pp.  71,295.  (About  A.D.  280.) 
§  Gibbon,  Ch.  XXVII.— A.D,  383. 


333 


334 


LIST  OF  THE  ANIMALS  SLAIN. 


CHAP,    count  of  much  greater  numbers  of  quadrupeds  and  other  animals,  but 
XI. 

^^^j  the  reader  will  probably  think  that  the  number  here  presented  is  much 
more  than  sufficient  for  the  object  of  these  researches.  The  following 
is  a  list  of  such  animals  slain  in  the  games  and  sacrifices,  by  the  Romans, 
as  can  be  ascertained  ;  though  there  may  have  been  many  others,  as  no 
country  was  neglected,  and  no  expense  spared  to  procure  the  most 
rare  and  curious  animals,  for  many  centuries. 


*  Asses,  wild — Bears — Bisontes — Boars — Buffaloes — Bulls,  and  fo- 
reign ones — Camels — Camelopards — Crocodiles — Crocotta,  an  ani- 
mal between  a  dog  and  a  wolf.  Pliny,  B.  VIII.  Ch.  XLI. — Crocuta, 
an  animal  between  a  hyaena  and  a  lioness.  Pliny,  B.  VIII.  Ch.  XXX. 
Dragons,  (little  ones)  from  Egypt  by  Heliogabalus.  It  is  not  easy  to 
conjecture  what  this  may  have  been.  The  long  necked  creature 
named  Plesiosaurus,  is  perhaps  the  nearest  resemblance  to  so  uncer- 
tain a  name. — Deer  of  all  kinds — Domestic  animals  of  all  kinds,  Oxen, 
Sheep,  Birds,  &c. — Elephants — Elks — Hares — Hippopotamuses — 
Horses — Hyaenas — Leopards — Lions — Lynxes —  Orixes,  or  Oryges, 
with  one  horn — Ostriches — Indian  Oxen — Panthers — Rhinoceroses 
— Stags — Tigers — Turtles.  (Augustus  had  a  river  turtle,  from  India, 
three  cubits  long. )    Zebras;  and  probably  Quaggas, by  Severus. 

Besides  this  list  of  animals,  named  by  the  Romans  as  having  been 
exhibited,  remains  of  others  not  noticed,  as  far  as  these  researches  go, 
have  been  found — the  beaver,  tapir,  and  mastodon,  (probably  by  the  Ro- 
mans called  elephant) :  and  they  are  known  to  have  exhibited  some  ani- 
mals, the  bones  of  which  have  not  been  detected,  as  far  as  the  writer's 

knowledge  extends  the  camelopard,  zebra,  ostrich — nor  has  there 

ever  occurred  in  this  research,  a  single  instance  of  the  mention 


*  Those  in  Italics  are  not  represented  in  the  engraving  of  the  circus;  nor  is 
the  Irish  elk. 


THE  UNICORN.  335 

of  camels'  bones  being  found,  of  which  there  must  be  vast  numbers  in  CHAP. 

XI. 

Siberia,  and  some  in  Europe :  this  is  a  very  remarkable  fact,  and  may  '^-v-o 
account  for  many  bones,  which  have  puzzled  those  who  found  them, 
or  have  been  supposed  to  belong  to  other  large  quadrupeds. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  UNICORN. 

The  oryx  of  Pliny  is  said  to  be  an  antelope  with  two  horns,  slender, 
straight,  and  three  feet  long.    See  Buffon  and  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Pasan." 

In  all  ages,  and  all  countries,  the  unicorn  is  mentioned.  Timur 
killed  rhinoceroses  and  unicorns,  on  the  frontiers  of  Cashmere.  Vide 
Chap.  IV.  of  this  volume.  Can  these  assertions  arise  from  antelopes, 
or  other  animals,  sometimes  shedding  one  horn  before  the  other  ?  If 
they  ever  do  so,  they  may  have  often  been  seen  without  having  been 
killed;  and  the  sportsman  not  having  an  opportunity  to  examine 
them,  thus  some  of  the  reports  might  arise. 

Ptolemy's  carriages,  according  to  Athenseus,  were  drawn  by  orixes, 
with  one  horn.  There  have  lately  been  reports  of  a  kind  of  deer  with 
one  horn  having  been  seen  in  Napaul,  but  there  is  no  confirmation  of  the 
truth  of  these  rumours.  Mr.  Bell,  Journey  to  Pekin,  Chapter  II.  says 
that  a  hunter  in  Siberia,  near  the  Irtish,  (  which  is  due  north  of  Napaul ) 
told  him,  and  that  his  story  was  confirmed  by  several  of  his  neigh- 
bours, that  in  March,  1713,  being  out  hunting,  he  discovered  the  track 
of  a  stag,  which  he  pursued  and  overtook,  when  he  was  startled  by 
perceiving  that  it  had  only  one  horn,  stuck  in  the  middle  of  its  fore- 
head. He  killed  it,  and  shewed  it,  being  near  his  village,  to  the  great 
admiration  of  the  spectators.  He  ate  the  flesh,  and  sold  the  horn  to  a 
comb  maker,  in  the  town  of  Tara,  for  ten  alteens,  about  fifteen  pence 
sterling.  I  made  careful  enquiries,  says  Mr.  B.  about  this  unicorn — he 


THE  UNICORN. 

told  me  that  it  exactly  resembled  a  stag,  and  that  the  horn  was  of  a 
brownish  colour,  about  one  arsheen  (or  twenty-eight  inches)  long,  and 
twisted  from  the  root,  till  within  a  finger's  length  of  the  top,  where  it 
was  divided  like  a  fork  into  two  points,  very  sharp. 

Heliogabalus  (Montfaucon,  IV.  125),  as  well  as  Ptolemy,  was  drawn 
by  oryges  with  one  horn.  The  pasan  is  too  small  for  the  purpose  of 
drawing  a  carriage. 

As  the  Romans  and  Egyptians,  for  their  processions  and  spectacles, 
left  no  part  of  Africa  and  Asia  unexplored,  and  gave  extravagant 
prices  for  curious  animals,  it  is  not  impossible,  but  the  unicorn  may 
yet  be  found.  It  is  not  confounded  with  the  rhinoceros  in  the  above 
accounts,  that  animal  being  also  mentioned  in  them. 

Aristotle  also  classes  the  oryx  as  having  one  horn.  Oppian  de- 
scribes it  as  a  fierce  animal. — See  notes  to  Herodotus,  Melpomene, 
CXCII.  A  Mahomedan  prince  is  said  to  have  sent  two  unicorns  to 
Mecca,  in  the  year  1799,  from  Africa.    Rees's  Cyc.  "Monoceros." 

A  very  interesting  dissertation,  with  a  drawing  on  this  subject,  in 
Barrow's  Travels  in  Africa,  Vol.1.  p.311to  320,  leaves  scarcely  a 
doubt  of  the  existence  of  animals  with  one  horn,  and  in  size  and  shape 
like  a  horse.  The  countries  reported  to  contain  the  unicorn  are  those 
which  are  least  known.  In  Africa  from  South  Lat.  30°  to  North  Lat. 
10°  or  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  British  miles  in  length, 
and  two  thousand  miles  in  breadth  at  the  equator,  a  space  more  con- 
siderable than  all  Europe,  is  to  moderns  utterly  unknown.  See  also 
the  vast  countries  between  Hindostan  and  Siberia,  which  are  equally 
unvisited  by  any  intelligent  European.  With  respect  to  Africa,  the 
Romans  were  acquainted  with  the  interior  as  far  as  latitude  14°  south. 
"  Comme  aujourd'hui  on  connoit  assez  bien  les  cotes  de  l'Afrique,  et 
tres-mal  l'interieur,  les  anciens  connoissoient  assez  bien  l'interieur 
et  tres-mal  les  cotes  "— (Esprit  des  Lois,  Liv.  XXI.  Ch.  X.)  See 


THE  UNICORN.  337 

also  Ptolemy,  Lib.  I.  Ch.  VII.  VIII.  &  IX.  Tab.  IV.    See  the  an-  CHAP. 

XI. 

cient  coin  found  in  Herefordshire,  in  Chap.  XIII.  Plate  1,  of  this  ^^v—*^ 
Vol.  Does  not  this  assist  in  proving  that  such  an  animal  was  known  1 
The  wings  on  the  man's  shoulders  rather  weaken  that  conjec- 
ture, but  are  not  decisive  against  it.  The  shapes  of  the  tail  and  breast 
of  the  unicorn,  are  a  presumption  that  it  is  a  portrait.  The  legend 
on  this  coin  VLATOS  ATEVLA,  are  words  not  in  the  Latin  dic- 
tionary; and  Camden  could  not  explain  them.  The  coin  appears  to 
be  like  the  British  money  of  the  first  century,  and  the  same  legend  is 
found  on  other  coins,  with  a  horse  and  some  other  animals.  Banduri 
conjectures  that  Atevla  means  Attila:  but  this  is  not  probable.  Per- 
haps some  one  well  acquainted  with  the  Greek,  may  be  able  to  afford 
an  elucidation,  if  the  legend,  although  the  characters  are  Roman,  be 
derived  from  that  language. 

A  British  officer  reported,  in  July,  1825,  that  he  saw  an  unicorn  in 
the  thick  woods  of  Aracan.  Vincent  Le  Blanc  relates  (see  Ch.  VII. 
of  this  Vol.)  that  there  are  unicorns  and  rhinoceroses  in  Siam,  and  that 
in  the  queen's  park  at  Pegu  there  is  an  unicorn  called  Drougala,  and 
the  head  of  another,  with  the  horn  in  the  middle  of  the  upper  part  of 
the  forehead,  set  fast  upon  a  fountain.  Le  Blanc  mentions  their  be- 
ing remarkably  timid.  In  addition  to  all  these  probabilities,  there 
were  among  the  remains  of  the  animals  found  at  Cadstadt  near  Stut- 
gard,  "  beaucoup  d'os  de  rhinoceros,  d'hyaenas  et  d'animaux  du  genre 
du  cheval."  As  Ptolemy  Philadelphus  possessed  so  many  of  these 
animals,  the  probability  is  that  they  exist  in  Africa,  in  those  vast  re- 
gions undiscovered  by  modern  Europeans.  This  conjecture  is  much 
strengthened,  by  the  resemblance  of  this  animal  on  the  coin  to  that 
in  Mr.  Barrow's  Travels. 


x  x 


338 


CHAPTER  XIL 


Remains  of  Elephatits  and  Wild  Beasts  found  in  Italy  -France 

 -Sicily  Spain — — Germany;  and  other  Countries. 

CHAP.    IMPOST  of  the  following  extracts  of  the  places,  where  bones  have 
XII. 

al0>~v«**u  been  found,  in  Europe,  are  from  the  Baron  Cuvier's  great  work. 

IN  ITALY, 

At  Rome,  in  the  valley  of  the  Tiber,  great  numbers  of  fossil  bones 
of  elephants  and  various  wild  beasts  were  found. 

Note. — At  Rome  there  were  amphitheatres;  and  one  at  Fidene, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber,  a  few  miles  distant  from  Rome.  By 
the  sudden  fall  of  this  amphitheatre,  fifty  thousand  persons  were  killed 
or  hurt. 

At  Verona,  three  leagues  distant,  many  bones  of  elephants  and 
other  animals. 

Note.— At  Verona  there  was  an  amphitheatre;  and  it  is  shewn, 
in  Ch.  X.  that  animals  were  generally  kept  at  some  distance  from 
cities. 

At  Puzxuoli,  remains  of  elephants. 

Note. — There  was  an  amphitheatre  at  Puzzuoli 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c.  339 

At  Pisa,  remains  of  elephants.  CXHP 
JSfote. — Pisa  was  an  important  municipium,  and,  we  may  suppose,  w>v«L^ 
had  its  amphitheatre. 

At  Orvieto,  remains  of  elephants. 

Note. — The  amphitheatre  at  Otriculi  is  near  Orvieto. 

At  Ancona,  remains  of  elephants, 

Note. — Ancona  is  about  twelve  miles  from  Sena  (now  Sengaglia.) 
"  Both  the  Roman  army  commanded  by  Nero,  and  the  Carthagin- 
ian army  under  the  command  of  Asdrubal,  who  had  elephants,  encamp- 
ed near  Sena." — Catrou,  III.  p.  415. 

At  Metauro,  remains  of  elephants. 

Note. — The  Consul,  Claudius  Nero,  at  the  battle  of  the  Metaurus, 
defeated  Asdrubal.  He  captured  four  elephants ;  and  six  were  killed 
by  the  Carthaginians,  being  quite  ungovernable,  and  creating  much 
confusion.— Livy,  B.  XXVII.  Ch.  XLVIII.   Catrou,  III.  416. 

Near  Turin,  elephants'  bones. 

Note. — Hannibal  besieged  and  took  Turin,  on  his  descent  from 
the  Alps.— Catrou,  Vol.  III.  p,  68. 

Piedmont:  in  the  province  of  Asti,  two  skeletons  of  elephants. 

Note. — Hannibal  marched  from  Turin  by  Chivas,  north  of  the  Po. 
It  is  not  said  whereabouts  the  bones  were  found,  but  the  province  of 
Asti  commences  close  to  Turin.    See  the  map  in  Ch.  IX. 

At  Plaisance,  distant  nine  miles,  and  two  from  the  Trebia,  a  fossil 
elephant. 

"  If  ever  there  was  a  fossil  elephant,  which  might  be  consider- 
ed as  one  of  Hannibal's,  it  is  that  found  two  miles  from  the  Tre- 
bia, and  nine  above  Plaisance ;  but,  as  if  to  contradict  these  conjec- 
tures, the  head  of  a  rhinoceros  was  found  near  it." — Cuvier,  p.  94. 

Note. — Asdrubal  besieged  Placentia,  twelve  years  after  Hannibal  had 
been  there.— Catrou,  III.  p.  411.  There  was  an  amphitheatre  (the 
x  x  2 


340  REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS  AND  WILD  BEASTS. 

CHAP,    largest  in  Italy,  Rees's  Encyc.)  at  Placentia,  which  may  account  for 
X.IJ . 

y~*w>  the  rhinoceros. 

Little  Mount  St.  Bernard;  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  all  the  bones 
of  an  elephant  were  dug  up. 

Note. — Hannibal  crossed  the  Alps  over  the  little  St.  Bernard;  and, 
twelve  years  afterwards,  Asdrubal  passed  over  the  same  route.  His- 
toire  du  passage  d'Annibal,  d'apres  Polybe  par  A.  J.  De  Luc :  also, 
Catrou,  Vol.  III.  p.  65,  and  the  notes,  by  Father  Rouille. — See  the 
map  of  Hannibal's  march,  in  Chap.  IX. 

Near  Florence  parts  of  the  skeletons  of  at  least  a  hundred  hippopo- 
tami, mixed  in  great  abundance  with  the  remains  of  elephant  and 
rhinoceros,  with  those  of  horses,  oxen,  deer,  hyaena,  bear,  tiger,  wolf, 
mastodon,  hog,  tapir,  and  beaver. — Quarterly  Review,  LVII.  p.  153. 

Note. — To  what  possible  origin  can  these  be  attributed  but  an  am- 
phitheatre, which  there  undoubtedly  must  have  been  at  Florence,  and 
probably  at  Foesula?  Two  or  three  hundred  years  would  produce  all 
these  hippopotami,  which  were  to  be  had  from  the  Roman  province  of 
Egypt,  without  much  difficulty.  Many  of  their  bones  are  found  near 
a  hollow  or  valley,  similar  to  that  at  Kirkdale,  and  which  might  easily 
be  converted  into  a  lake  for  the  hippopotami. 

In  the  Upper  Vol  cVArno,  great  numbers  of  elephants'  bones. 

At  Figlene,  upon  the  Arno,  great  numbers,  mixed  with  bones  of  the 
rhinoceros. 

Note. — "  To  the  classical  tourist,  the  road  from  Incisa  (not  far  from 
Figlene)  to  Levane,  presents  the  site  where  Hannibal  halted  his  army, 
previous  to  an  engagement  at  Thrasymenus,  with  the  Roman  legions 
under  the  Consul  Flaminius.  The  fossil  bones  of  elephants  have  been 
found  there,  and  are  considered  to  be  the  remains  of  those  animals 
slain  in  the  engagement :  but  it  is  probable  that  they  are  the  remnant 
of  some  conflict  of  the  elements." — Lady  Morgan's  Italy,  Vol.  II. 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c. 

p.  144.  See  the  description  of  Hannibal's  march  in  Ch.  IX.  and  the 
remarks. 

At  Cortona  and  at  Perugia  some  elephants'  bones. 

Note. — Cortona  is  about  five  miles  on  the  north,  and  Perugia  about 
six  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake  Thrasymenus.  The  last  elephant  may 
have  died  of  fatigue,  or  have  been  killed  in  the  battle,  at  one  of  those 
places.    See  Ch.  IX. 

The  Val  de  Chiano,  bones  of  the  elephant. 

Note. — The  Val  de  Chiano  is  about  forty  miles  north  of  Rome. 
There  is  an  amphitheatre  at  Otriculi,  which  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  Val  de  Chiano. 

At  Lake  Lamporecci,  some  bones  of  the  elephant. 

Note. — Not  found  on  the  map,  nor  in  gazetteers. 

At  Val  de  Nievole,  numbers  of  elephants'  bones. 

Note. — Not  found. 

Near  Benevento  and  at  Avettino,  elephants'  remains. 

Note. — Avellino  is  twelve  miles  from  Benevento.  There  were 
eight  elephants  captured,  at  the  terrible  battle  of  the  Taurasian  fields, 
near  Beneventum,  by  Curius,  who  defeated  Pyrrhus.  Four  died,  and 
four  were  led  in  triumph  at  Rome. — Catrou,  II.  483. 

At  Bologna,  elephants'  remains. 

Note. — Bologna  was  a  colony  and  a  municipium,  and  therefore  had, 
probably,  an  amphitheatre.  It  is  on  the  road  from  Placentia,  from 
which  place  Asdrubal,  with  his  elephants,  marched  to  Sena. — Catrou, 
III.  415. 

In  Tuscany,  hippopotamus'  and  rhinoceros'  bones  mixed. 

Note. — Florence  was  built  by  Sylla,  and  must  have  had  an  amphi- 
theatre, and  also  Pisa.  No  one  can  doubt  this  after  reading  the  chap- 
ter on  amphitheatres. 

At  Cogence,  in  Calabria,  elephants'  bones. 


342  REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c. 

CHAP,       Note. — Hannibal  was  encamped  at  Croton  in  further  Calabria, 
XI! 

where  he  beat  Sempronius  in  a  second  battle:  the  consul  killed  four 
thousand  Carthaginians.  Cosentia  trembled  at  the  consul's  approach, 
and  surrendered  at  discretion.  Livy,  B.  XXIX.  Ch.  XXXVI.  Ca- 
trou,  III.  501.  Hannibal  was  about  twelve  years  in  Italy,  and  was 
kept  constantly  supplied  with  great  numbers  of  elephants,  by  way  of 
the  gulph  of  Taranto.  The  fossil  bones  are  few  indeed  compared  with 
the  vast  number  of  elephants  killed  in  the  wars  and  amphitheatres ; 
especially  when  it  is  considered,  that  one  animal  produces  a  cart  load 
of  bones,  and  eight  grinders.  Hannibal  lived  generally  at  Capua ;  and, 
south  of  that  city,  many  fossil  bones  of  elephants  must  have  been 
buried  by  the  frequent  earthquakes  in  Italy. 


IN  FRANCE. 

At  Paris,  remains  of  the  elephant,  ox,  rein-deer,  and  other  fossil 
bones  have  been  found,  and,  near  them,  trunks  of  trees. 

Note. — Gratian,  Emperor  of  the  West,  brother  of  Theodosius  the 
Great,  made  large  parks  in  several  places  in  Gaul,  and  one  at  Paris ; 
all  of  which  were  plentifully  stocked  with  wild  beasts.  He  was  amus- 
ing himself  in  slaughtering  lions  and  bears  in  his  park  at  Paris,  with 
his  Scythian  hunting  friends  from  the  Volga,  when  the  British  Em- 
peror, Maximus,  invaded  Gaul;  and  Gratian  was  driven  away. — See 
the  chapter  on  Britain  in  this  volume.  The  trees  and  the  rein-deer 
prove,  apparently,  that  this  was  the  very  park  alluded  to.  Have  the  re- 
mains of  white  bears  been  found?  The  amphitheatre  at  Paris  was  on 
the  south  of  the  present  university. — See  Gibbon,  Ch.  XIX. 

At  Serve  St.  Antoine,  St.  Valiev,  Lavoute.  (Dep.  of  Ardeche);  at 
Tain,  diocese  of  Vienne,  remains  of  elephants. 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS.  343 

Note. — These  five  places  are  all  near  the  banks  of  the  Rhone,  on  the  CHAP 

XII 

march  where  Hannibal  passed  with  thirty-seven  elephants,  and  Asdrubal  v^^i^> 
with  a  number  not  known:  he  arrived  in  Italy  with  fifteen — See  the 
map  of  Hannibal's  march. 
At  Montrecaut,  elephants'  remains. 

Note. — I  cannot  find  any  name  thus  spelt;  Montr egaut  is  a  few 
leagues  north-east  of  Tain :  if  this  be  the  right  place,  it  is  also  on  the 
route  of  the  Carthaginians. 

At  Montpelier,  elephants'  remains. 

Note. — Hannibal  and  Asdrubal  passed  through  Montpelier:  and 
the  amphitheatres  at  Nismes  and  Aries  are  not  far  from  it. 

At  Plaine  de  Grenette,  remains  of  the  elephant. 

Note. — This  is  not  in  the  Gazetteer,  except  it  be  the  place  on  the 
coast  of  Provence,  called  Grenelle.  "  A  victory  was  gained  by  Caesar, 
in  a  battle  with  the  Gauls,  by  a  single  elephant. — Polyamus,  B.  VIII. 


IN  SICILY. 

Remains  of  elephants  have  been  found  at  Palermo,  and  at  Messina, 

Note. — At  the  great  victory  obtained  by  Metellus,  over  the  Cartha- 
ginians,  commanded  by  an  officer  named  Asdrubal,  at  Panormus,  (Pa- 
lermo), many  elephants  were  killed ;  and  more  than  a  hundred  were  cap- 
tured. They  were  sent  across  the  straits  of  Messina  to  Rhegium. — 
Catrou,  Vol.  II.  p.  591. 

At  Syracuse,  elephants'  bones  have  been  found. 

Note. — At  Syracuse  there  was  an  amphitheatre,  another  at  Cata- 
nia, and  one  at  Agrigentum.  The  Carthaginians  possessed  great 
part  of  Sicily. 


344 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


CHAP. 


IN  SPAIN. 

At  the  bridge  of  Toledo,  and  at  the  bridge  of  Man%anares,  remains 
of  elephants  have  been  found. 

Note. — Althea,  near  Toledo,  was  taken  by  assault  by  Hannibal.  He 
also  gained  a  great  victory  on  the  banks  of  the  Tagus,  the  waters  of 
which  were  red  with  blood,  over  the  Carpetani,  whose  capital  was  To- 
ledo. A  number  of  Spaniards  were  trodden  to  death  by  his  elephants, 
of  which  he  had  forty.— Pliny.  Polybius,  B.  III.  Ch.  XIV.  Livy, 
B.  XXI.  Ch.  V.    Catrou,  Vol.  IV.  pp.  40,  47. 

Asdrubal,  who  had  numerous  elephants,  destroyed  the  country  of 
the  Carpetani  with  fire  and  sword.  Madrid  is  on  the  Manzanares,  and 
is  said  to  be  the  antient  Mantua  Carpetanorum. — Livy,  B.  XXIV.  Ch. 
XLII.  Rees  Cyc.  "  Madrid."  Two  years  or  less  afterwards,  when 
Asdrubal  was  defeated  by  the  two  Scipios  at  Munda  in  Granada., 
thirty-nine  of  his  elephants  were  slain. 

There  are  the  remains  of  an  amphitheatre  at  Seville. 

SWITZERLAND— GERMANY,  &c. 

Remains  of  elephants  have  been  found  in  the  Swiss  valleys,  near 
the  Rhine,  at  Geneva  and  at  Lucerne*. 

*  A  consul,  an  ancestor  of  Nero,  having  conquered  the  Allobroges  and  the 
Averni,  made  a  tour  of  the  province  mounted  upon  an  elephant,  with  a  body 
of  soldiers  attending  him,  in  a  sort  of  triumphal  pomp. — Suetonius,  "  Nero."  Ch.  II. 
Geneva,  was  the  Colonia  Allobrogum. — See  Map  of  Hannibal's  march. 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c.  345 

In  the  great  valley  of  the  Rhine  many  bones  of  elephants,  some  at  c*?^p- 
Cleves  (with  rhinoceros'  hones)  and  some  at  Zutphen*. 

In  the  environs  of  Strasburg  some  fossil  elephants'  bones  f. 

In  Thuringia,  Com.  of  Burgtouna,  bones  of  elephants,  rhinoceroses, 
and  stags,  at  great  depths.  Two  elephants  at  the  depth  of  fifty  feet, 
and  at  a  little  distance,  in  similar  beds,  "  des  bois  du  cerf,  6u  elan  fos- 
sile."    At  Bahtadt,  a  near  village,  rhinoceros'  teeth. 

Near  Heidelberg,  elephants'  bones  were  found,  and  also  at  Manheim, 
Wurtsburg,  and  Bamberg.  In  the  valley  of  KocJier,  near  Halle  in 
Swabia,  tusks  and  bones ;  near  Passau,  elephants'  bones ;  and  near  Aich- 
sted,  with  bones  of  the  hyaena.  At  Krembs  elephants'  bones,  and  al- 
so "le  corps  d'un  mastodonte  a  dents  etroites"  At  Kayser- S teinbrncJe, 
Buggau,  and  Vag-Ugeli,  on  the  river  Vag,  in  Hungary,  elephants' 
bones.  In  several  places  of  Hungary  and  Transtjhania,  some  bones ; 
generally  in  marshes.  "  Une  tres  grande  machoire  inferieure  etoit  un 
peu  au  dessus  du  retranchement  des  Remains,  qui  va  de  la  Teiss  au 
Danube,  vis-a-vis  Peter waradin." 

Note. — History  is  too  imperfect  to  permit  of  tracing  all  these  places. 
But  the  wars  of  Hadrian  in  Dacia ;  and  the  Roman  troops  sent  by 

*  The  Romans  had  a  vast  number  of  vessels  always  upon  the  Rhine.  We  find 
a  thousand  constructed  at  one  time,  (some  large  for  engines  of  war),  and  ordered 
by  Germanicus  to  meet  at  the  isle  of  Batavia.  The  Batavians  were  defeated,  and 
the  countries  to  the  Elbe  were  conquered.  Some  of  the  vessels  were  driven  to 
Britain  by  a  tempest,  and  sent  back  by  the  British  King  Cunobeline.  Tacitus,  An. 
II.  May  it  be  conjectured,  that  elephants  were  conveyed  about  this  river  for  ex- 
hibitions; and  for  amphitheatres  in  the  camps  and  towns,  when  there  was  such  a 
rage  for  those  sights?  The  amphitheatre  at  Treves  may  account  for  many  of  the 
bones,  besides  Colonia  Agrippina,  and  Colonia  Trajana,  now  Cologne  and  Kel- 
len  (near  Cleves).  Eight  legions  were  kept  constantly  on  the  Rhine  by  Augus- 
tus, and  four  on  the  Danube. 

t  Julius  Caesar  gained  a  victory  at  Strasburg,  which  Zosimus,  p.  68,  compares 
with  that  of  Alexander  over  Darius.  Sixty  thousand  were  killed,  and  as  many 
more  drowned  in  the  river. 

Y  Y 


I 


346 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c. 


CHAP.  Antoninus  Pius  to  Olbiopolis  on  the  Dneiper,  to  act  against  the  Sey- 
thians,  prove  that  large  armies  went  more  to  the  East  than  any  of 
the  places  where  those  fossil  bones  are  found.  The  conquest  of  Dacia 
required  a  war  of  five  years'  duration. — See  Julius  Capitolinus  in  Ber- 
nard, Vol.  I.  p.  100.  "  Probus  conquered  all  the  country  near  the 
Euxine."    Vopiscus  in  Bernard,  Vol.  II.  p.  287.    (See  forward.) 

Near  Wolfenbuttle,  a  whole  skeleton.  At  Brunswick,  at  the  depth 
of  twelve  feet,  one  tusk,  eleven  feet  long;  one  fourteen  feet  eight 
inches,  curved  in  a  half-circle*;  with  nine  others,  and  at  least  thirty 
grinders,  twenty-two  of  which  are  like  other  fossil  molar  teeth ;  mixed 
with  bones  of  rhinoceroses,  horses,  oxen,  and  stags,  in  prodigious 
quantities. 


At  Osterode,  a  skeleton,  with  two  bones  of  a  rhinoceros.  Near  Steig- 
erthal,  (Hohenstein),  four  grinders;  (also  an  under  jaw  of  a  hyaena,  and, 
at  the  distance  of  a  league,  some  bones  of  a  rhinoceros).  Between  Halle 
(in  Saxony)  and  Querfurt,  many  elephants'  bones,  some  of  which  were 
found  in  a  quarry  of  hard  stone,  apparently  in  a  cleft  ("  fente  ").  At 
Cassel,  and  several  places  in  Hesse,  elephants' bones:  at  Sodershausen, 
elephants'  bones  much  calcined.  At  Potsdam,  elephants'  bones :  near 
Magdeburg,  elephants'  bones  f . 

In  Bohemia,  some  elephants'  bones  in  several  places. 

Note  Marcus  Aurelius  waged  war  in  person  for  about  three  years 

together  against  many  nations  who  had  confederated.  The  Emperor 
in  person,  and  the  principal  officers,  marched  at  the  head  of  the  troops : 
this  war  was  very  obstinate,  and  many  of  the  nobility  were  killed.  The 
nations  were  the  Quadi,  (by  the  Danube  and  the  river  Mark);  Suevi, 
(between  the  Rhine  and  the  Elbe);  Sarmatse,  (very  undefined,  Poland, 


*  This  curve  is  like  that  of  the  tusks  of  the  Lena  elephant.    Mr.  Adams  saw 
a  tusk  at  Yakoutsk,  fifteen  feet  long-  (French), 
t  See  the  Note  **,  p.  349. 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c.  34 

Russia,  &c);  Latringes,  (Livonia,  Riga);  Bursi,  Victovali,  Sosives,  Si-  CHAP. 
cobates,Roxalani;  (the Ukraine) ;  Bastarnae,  (Upper  Hungary);  Alani,  w-y-L. 
(the  countries  by  the  Don  and  the  Palus  Maeotis);  Costoborei,  (this  and 
several  others  are  uncertain) ;  Marcomanni,  Narisei,  (Bohemia  and  Mo- 
ravia).   This  war  was  resumed,  and  was  not  finished  at  the  Emperor's 
death. — Capitolinus  in  Aug.  Hist.  p.  132. 

At  Seelberg,  (on  the  other  side  of  the  Necker),  six  hundred  paces 
from  Canstadt,  at  the  depth  of  eighty  feet,  thirteen  tusks,  in  general 
much  curved,  placed  near  each  other,  as  if  intentionally,  and  several 
separately;  also  a  number  of  grinders,  from  two  inches  to  one  foot  in 
length.  Bones  of  the  horse,  stag,  a  number  of  rhinoceros'  teeth ; 
others  supposed  to  be  of  the  bear,  and  one  attributed  to  the  tapir. 
Near  the  walls  of  Canstadt,  a  skeleton  and  two  tusks. 

At  Canstadt,  (three  miles  from  Stutgard),  in  the  year  1700,  a  vast 
collection  of  bones  was  found,  none  at  a  greater  depth  than  twenty 
feet.  "  Sans  aucun  ordre,  en  grande  partie  brises ;  quelquesuns  roules, 
sans  aucune  proportion  entre  eux:  des  dents  de  chevaux  par  charet- 
tees,  et  pas  des  os  pour  la  dixieme  partie  de  ces  dents*:  plus  de  soix- 
ante  defenses,  une  tres  courbee,  de  cinq  et  demi  pieds,  une  autre  de 
quatre  et  demi.  Les  os  des  elephans  paroissent  avoir  ete  plus  eleve, 
que  la  plupart  des  autres.  Une  partie  etoit  engagee  dans  une  espece 
de  roc,  fermee  par  de  l'argile,  du  sable,  des  cailleux  et  de  l'ocre ;  agglu- 
tines  ensemble,  et  Ton  fut  oblige  d'employer  la  poudre  pour  les  avoir. 
Ces  os  sont  accompagnes  dans  le  cabinet,  de  beaucoup  d'os  de  rhino- 
ceros, d'hysene,  et  d'animaux  du  genre  du  cheval  f ,  du  cerf,  du  bceuf, 

*  Horses,  bulls,  and  other  domestic  animals,  were  slain  in  the  amphitheatres. 
Montfaucon,  Vol.  III.  Julius  Caesar  exhibited  a  combat  of  forty  elephants 
against  five  hundred  horse  and  one  thousand  foot.  Kennet,  p.  268.  Pliny,  Nat. 
Hist.  Lib.  VIII.  Ch.  VII. 

f  Possibly  the  zebra,  quagha  or  orix  ?  which  were  at  Rome  not  uncommon. 
Severus  brought  horses  resembling  tigers,  from  the  Red  Sea.    Dion  Cassius. 


Y  Y  2 


348  REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c. 

CHAP,  du  lievre  et  petits  carnassiers  *.  De  tres  grandes  epiphyses  de  verte- 
k^^-^j  bres,  pourroient  faire  soupconner  des  cetasesf.  Il-y-a  aussi  quelques 
fragmens  humains.  Malheureusement,  on  n'a  pas  assez  distingue 
les  hauteurs  differentes,  6u  chaque  os  fut  trouve,  pendant  six  mois 
que  les  fouilles  durerent,  ni  les  os  qui  etoient  dans  le  retranche- 
ment  mentionne  par  Reisel,  de  ceux  qu'on  trouva  hors  de  ses 
lfmites.  On  deterra,  par  example,  aussi  des  morceaux  de  charbon 
et  des  fragments  d'objets  fabriques  par  1'homme,  comme  des  vases, 
&c.  qui  assurement  n'avoient  pas  ete  deposes  en  meme  temps  que 
les  grands  os  J.  Reisel  dit  qu'il  y  avoit  des  debris  d'un  ancien  mur, 
epais  de  huit  pieds  et  de  quatre  vingts  de  tour,  qui  paroit  avoir  ete 
l'enceinte  d'un  fort  ou  d'un  temple;  et  Ton  voit  en  effet  encore 
quelques  restes  §.  Aussi  Spleiss  conclut-il  que  ces  os  etoient  ceux 
des  animaux  qu'on  sacrifioit;  mais  ils  etoit  pour  la  plupart  bien 
plus  profondement  que  les  fondations  de  ce  mur :  d'ailleurs  Ton  en 
trouve  encore  plus  pres  du  Necker,  dans  un  sol  naturel,  et  tout  sem- 
blable  a  celui  6u  on  les  deterra. 

Tout  ce  qu'on  pourroit  conclure  de  leur  abondance  dans  cette  en- 
ceinte, c'est  qu'ils  avoient  deja  ete  une  fois  deterres  et  rassembles  a  cet 
endroit  par  quelque  curieux. 

M  Autenrieth  a  trouve  dans  le  voisinage  une  foret  entiere  de 
tronc  ||  de  palmiers  couches. 

*  Sometimes  three  hundred  oxen  were  sacrificed.     Livy,  B.  XXII.  Ch.  X. 

Hares  and  deer  Rennet,  p.  276.    Swine,  sheep,  eagles,  lions,  a  hundred  at  a 

time  Bernard,  Vol.  II.  p.  85. 

f  Bones  of  whales  and  other  sea  animals  were  sometimes  exhibited.  By  Au- 
gustus See  Suetonius,  Ch.  LXXII.    By  Scaurus — See  Catrou,  Vol.  VI.  p.  96. 

%  Sacrifices  and  games  were  common  for  a  great  many  centuries. 

§  Sacrificial  Temples  were  round.  Kennet,  p.  84. 

||  These  trunks  of  trees  are  very  probably  the  wrecks  of  an  amphitheatre,  see 
Chap.  X.    The  vases  assist  in  proving  a  Roman  origin. 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c.  349 

Note*  * — The  Emperor  Probus,  after  slaying  near  four  hundred  CHAP, 
thousand  of  the  barbarians,  (and  the  entire  submission  of  nine  •^^r^j 
kingdoms),  drove  the  rest  beyond  the  rivers  Elbe  and  the  Necker. 
He  took  as  much  booty  from  them,  as  they  had  taken  from  the  Ro- 
mans ;  besides  which,  he  planted  Roman  colonies  and  garrisons  on  the 
barbarian  soil,  and  placed  his  soldiers  upon  them. — Bernard,  Vol.  II. 
p.  289,  from  Flavius  Vopiscus.  The  great  stone  wall  which  Probus 
caused  to  be  built  by  the  Roman  legions  reached  from  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Newstadt  and  Ratisbon  on  the  Danube,  across  hills,  vallies, 
rivers,  and  morasses,  as  far  as  Wimpfen  on  the  Necker,  and  at  length 
terminated  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  after  a  winding  course  of  near 
two  hundred  miles. — See  Gibbon,  Ch.  XII.  As  Probus  had  been 
much  in  Egypt,  and  possessed  such  vast  numbers  of  wild  beasts,  (see 
Ch.  XI.)  there  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  the  troops,  during  this 
labour,  and  especially  on  the  fulfilment  of  their  arduous  task,  were  in- 
dulged with  the  combats  of  beasts,  and  other  amusements,  which  were 
usual  in  the  camps :  and  that  the  reduced  kings  and  their  subjects 
would'  be  conciliated  by  the  like  means.  Probus  transplanted  a  great 
number  of  Vandals  into  Thrace. — Augustan  Hist.  Vol.11.  293.  He 
also  sent  some  Vandals  to  Britain,  who,  it  is  supposed,  settled  near 
Cambridge,  and  from  whom  a  village  was  named  Vandalsburg.  See 
Rees's  Cyc.  "Vandals."  The  history  or  life  of  Probus  is  exceedingly 
imperfect,  having  been  lost ;  and  there  remains  little  more  than  has 
been  preserved  in  the  Augustan  History,  by  Flavius  Vopiscus,  which 
see,  p.  273. 

In  Poland  a  few  bones  have  been  found. 

Note. — There  is  perhaps  not  a  place  mentioned  where  bones  have 
been  found,  that  was  not  visited  by  large  Roman  armies,  and  most  of 
them  even  by  Emperors.  Trajan  twice  invaded  Dacia,  and  the  wars 
were  long  and  difficult :  he  made  it  a  province  of  the  empire,  and  plant- 


350 


REMAINS  OF  ELEPHANTS,  &c. 


CHAP,  ed  it  with  Roman  colonies.  On  his  return  to  Rome,  the  spectacles 
^ lasted  for  months:  eleven  thousand  various  beasts  were  slain ;  and  ten 
thousand  gladiators  combated. — Augustan  History,  Vol.  I.  p.  20.  On 
the  other  occasion  of  his  return  from  Dacia,  a  medal  was  struck  to 
celebrate  his  victory,  upon  which  is  represented  a  chariot  drawn  by 
four  elephants. — Haym.  Vol.  II.  p.  206.  Augustus,  partly  in  person, 
and  partly  by  his  lieutenants,  conquered  Pannonia,  (Hungary).  He 
put  a  stop  to  the  inroads  of  the  Dacians,  (Transylvania,  Moldavia,  and 
Wallachia),  by  cutting  off  three  of  their  generals  with  vast  armies. 
He  drove  the  Germans  beyond  the  Elbe. — Suetonius,  "  Aug."  XXI. 
Domitian  invaded  Germany,  Poland,  and  Dacia.  If  bones  of  ele- 
phants, and  such  wild  beasts  as  were  slain  in  the  Roman  games,  are 
found  in  any  places,  not  known  to  be  mentioned  as  having  been  fre- 
quented by  the  Romans,  can  the  same  cause  for  their  existence,  in 
such  places,  be  doubted  ?  May  not  some  of  those  countries  have  adopt- 
ed the  like  sports  by  purchasing  beasts  ? 

In  Ostrobothnie,  a  grinder.  At  Falkenburg,  in  Halland,  two  bones. 
In  Iceland,  a  petrified  grinder  *.  Pontoppidan  mentions,  from  Tor- 
feus,  a  prodigious  skull  and  tooth. 

*  Such  instances  of  bones,  which  may  have  been  conveyed  by  travellers,  as 
curiosities,  cannot  be  supposed  to  affect  the  general  question. — The  late  periods 
of  the  conquests  in  the  above  countries  have  been  selected  in  preference  to  those 
of  Csesar  and  others,  in  consequence  of  the  Romans  having'  subdued  Egypt,  and 

then  possessing  such  numbers  of  wild  beasts  All  the  elephants  and  wild  beasts, 

shown  from  the  earliest  times  as  curiosities,  must  have  produced  many  of  the  re- 
mains of  single  animals,  which  have  been  found. 


351 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Sketch  of  the  History  of  Roman  Britain,  ending  A.  D.  427  

Julius  Ccesar.  Claudius.  Elephants.  Britain  is  vi- 
sited by  many  Emperors.  York,  the  Head  Quarters  of  the 

Roman  Empire  for  three  years.  'Mines.  Wealth.  

Temples.  Baths.  Amphitheatres.  British  Empe- 
rors.  Carausius ;  his  powerful feet ;  he  sails  to  A frica.  

Conquest  of  Gaul  and  Spain  by  Maximus;  he  passes  the  Alps. 

 Invasion  of  Gaul,  Spain,  and  Italy,  by  Constantine.  

Sudden  ruin  and  destruction  of  Colonies,  Towns,  Temples,  and 
Palaces. 

Britain,  to  any  one  who  is  searching  for  truth,  or  real  history,  CHAP, 
furnishes  no  materials  which  are  worthy  to  occupy  his  time  or  atten-  XIII. 
tion,  until  that  island  attracted  the  notice  of  the  Romans :  and  even 
then,  for  nearly  a  century,  we  are  confined  to  the  picture  which  Caesar 
has  drawn  in  his  Commentaries.  Rude  as  is  his  description  of  the  Bri- 
tons, he  failed  with  his  immense  army  to  subdue  them.  The  inter- 
course which  this  event  caused  between  Britain  and  Italy,  appears  to 
have  had  a  favourable  effect  on  the  savage  manners  and  customs  of 
the  natives. 

The  residence  of  Agricola  may  be  considered  as  the  foundation  of 


352  JULIUS  C^SAR. 

CHAP,    a  rapid  approach  to  a  degree  of  civilization,  and  even  grandeur,  seldom 
v^-v-^  granted  to  their  own  island,  in  those  ages,  by  the  generality  of  the 
English  in  modern  times. 

The  invasion  by  Csesar  is  described  in  so  many  books,  that  it  will 
be  merely  glanced  at  in  this  chapter,  in  order  to  dwell  at  greater  length 
on  that  part  of  history,  which  is  more  to  the  purpose  of  this  essay; 
and  much  less  known  to  most  readers. 

From  the  first  invasion  of  Britain,  by  J ulius  Csesar,  about  fifty-four 
years  before  Christ,  to  the  abandoning  of  the  island,  is  four  hundred 
and  eighty-one  years.  Of  this  number  there  are  no  less  than  three 
hundred  and  twenty  years  in  which  Britain  is  not  noticed  by  any 
known  author*.  In  the  rest  of  that  long  period,  war  is  almost  the 
only  topic  which  engages  the  attention  of  the  Romans,  when  Britain 
is  mentioned. 

The  manners  and  customs  of  the  Britons,  and  of  the  resident  Ro- 
mans, while  the  island  was  under  their  domination,  can  only  be  known 
by  the  few  incidental  remarks  that  can  be  collected,  and  the  very 
numerous  vestiges  which  have  been  discovered  and  described  by  An- 
tiquarians. 

Csesar  invaded  Britain  two  successive  years;  the  first  time  with  two, 
and  the  second,  with  five  legions f,  and  about  two  thousand  cavalry,  in 
eight  hundred  vessels.     On  the  approach  of  the  Romans  to  the 

*  Horsley,  Britannia  Romana.    Chronological  table. 

t  A  legion,  without  auxiliaries,  was  about  six  thousand  foot,  and  with  auxilia- 
ries, double  the  number.  The  auxiliaries  were  levies  from  the  conquered  coun- 
tries. In  the  reigns  of  Dioclesian  and  Maximian  a  legion  consisted  of  six  thousand 
six  hundred  and  sixty-six.    Bernard,  Vol.  II.  p.  348. 


A  LARGE  ARMED  ELEPHANT.  353 

Thames,  which  they  meant  to  cross,  (at  Oatlands),  Cassivelaunus,  with  CHAP, 
his  army  of  Britons,  were  there  to  dispute  the  passage,  which  was  forti-  k^^J^j 
fied  with  sharp  stakes.  Caesar  ordered  the  cavalry  to  ride  into  the 
water,  and  the  foot  to  follow:  the  ford  was  about  five  feet  deep.  Cae- 
sar had  with  him  a  vastly  large  elephant,  covered  with  an  iron  coat  of 
mail,  bearing  a  large  turret  upon  his  back,  filled  with  bow-men  and 
slingers.  The  cavalry  and  foot  attacked  the  army  with  vigour*.  At 
the  approach  of  the  elephant,  the  Britons,  with  their  horse  and  cha- 
riots, dismayed  at  the  sight  of  such  a  monstrous  beast,  fled ;  and  the 
rest  of  the  Romans  crossed  without  opposition  f. 

The  many  advantages  gained  by  the  Romans,  according  to  their 
commander's  Commentaries,  ended  in  a  treaty,  by  which  the  Britons 
engaged  to  pay  a  moderate  tribute :  and  they  gave  hostages  for  the 
performance  of  their  engagement.  Caesar  departed  with  his  whole  ar- 
my; and,  "on  his  return  to  Rome,  as  if  from  a  glorious  enterprise,  he 
offered  to  Venus,  the  patroness  of  his  family,  a  corslet  of  British 
pearls  J." 

Augustus,  according  to  Dion  Cassius,  set  out  for  the  conquest  of 
the  island,  but  the  Britons  sued  for  peace,  and  obtained  it  while  he 
was  in  Gaul.  There  are  British  coins  with  the  head  of  Augustus,  and 
the  word,  tascia,  and  several  with  that  word  and  the  head  of  Cunobe- 
line :  it  is  therefore  highly  probable  that  tribute  was  paid,  and  that 

*  Caesar's  Commentaries. 

t  Polyaenus's  Stratagems,  B.  VIII.  Neither  Caesar  nor  any  Roman  has  had  the 
candour  to  mention  this  stratagem. 

t  Milton,  Historical  Works,  Vol.  II.  p.  19,  from  Pliny.  Suetonius,  Ch.  XL VII. 
says,  "they  report  that  Cassar  invaded  Britain,  in  hopes  of  finding  pearls,  the  big- 
ness of  which  he  would  compare  together,  and  examine  the  weight  by  poising 
them  in  his  hand."  "  The  British  pearls,  however,  proved  of  little  value,  on  ac- 
count of  their  dark  and  livid  colour."    Gibbon,  Ch.  I.  Note  6.  ' 

zz 


351  DESCRIPTION  OF  BRITISH  COINS. 

CHAP.  Horace  alludes  to  that  circumstance  *.  In  the  reign  of  Tiberius,  some 
XIII. 

<^-v-^  ships  belonging  to  Germanicus  were,  in  a  furious  storm,  driven  to  Bri- 
tain, and  were  sent  back  by  Cunobeline  f .    The  mariners,  on  their  re- 


*  "  On  earth  a  present  god  shall  Caesar  reign, 
Since  world-divided  Britain  owns  his  sway." 

Francis's  Horace,  B.  III.  Ode  V. 
Milton,  in  his  History,  denies  that  tribute  was  paid.  See  Camden,  Vol.  L  p.  Ixviii 


t  DESCRIPTION  OF  PLATE  I. 

No  (COINS  OF  ANCIENT  BRITISH  KINGS.) 

1.  Cunobeline.  The  Reverse  represents  coining.  (This  coin  was  found  at 
St.  Albans.)  He  was  king  of  the  Trinobantes,  and  resided  at  Camelodu- 
num  (Colchester).    He  died  about  A.D.  41. 

2  The  same. — Reverse,  Apollo.    (Found  at  St.  Albans). 

3  The  same. — Reverse,  a  horse.    (Found  at  St.  Albans).    British  horses  were 

then  much  prized. 

4  The  same. — Reverse,  Pegasus.    (Found  at  Kingscote,  Gloucestershire). 

5  Not  known. — Reverse,  Verulam.    (Found  at  St.  Albans). 

6  Caractacus.     Son  of  Cunobeline.    He  was  king  of  the  Silures.    His  capital 

was  Caerguent,  in  Monmouthshire.    (Found  at  St.  Albans). 

6  A.  The  same.    This  small  brass  coin  is  a  great  curiosity,  having  a  head  of 

this  renowned  Briton.  It  is  not  well  executed.  The  reverse,  CARIC.  shows 
that  Carictacus  was  the  proper  way  of  spelling  Ids  name:  it  is  from  Tac  - 
tus  that  the  common  spelling  is  derived.  (In  the  possession  of  the  Earl  of 
Winchelsea.)    Haym.  Vol.  I.  p.  145. 

7  Arviragus.    Son  of  Cunobeline.    He  is  called  the  youngest  son,  by  Shakes- 

pear.  He  was  living  and  celebrated  as  a  monarch  of  importance  in  the 
reign  of  Domitian,  by  Juvenal,  Sat.  IV.  127.    (Found  at  Kingscote). 

8  Coin  of  Boadicea.    Queen  of  the  Iceni,  whose  capital  M  as  Caster,  (Norwich). 

The  strange  figure  on  the  reverse  has  been  conjectured  to  mean  a  horse 
worn  out  by  hard  labour.    (Found  at  St.  Albans). 

9  Not  ascertained.      Reverse  an  elephant.    (Found   in  Buckinghamshire). 

The  head  bears  resemblance  to  Arviragus. 
10.  Not  known.     Reverse  an  unicorn.    (Found  in  Herefordshire.)  Camden 
could  not  explain  the  legend.    He  does  not  conjecture  that  it  may  be  de- 
rived from  the  Greek.    See  Ch.  XI.  last  note,  on  the  Unicorn. 


©INS  of  A'MCSENT 


Corns  of  Ancient  British.  Euros . 

/ See  Description.] 


CALIGULA  THREATENS  INVASION.  355 

turn,  recounted  wonders,  uncommon  birds,  and  sea  monsters  of  ambi-  CHAP. 

XIII. 

guous  forms  between  man  and  beast:  strange  sights,  (says  Tacitus,  \^^-^> 
Annal.  II.),  or  the  effects  of  imagination  and  fear  *. 

Not  any  thing  more  material  is  known  till  Adminius,  son  of  Cuno- 
belinus,  having  incurred  his  father's  displeasure,  fled  to  Rome,  and 
persuaded  Caligula,  (A.  D.  40),  to  send  an  army  for  the  conquest  of 
Britain.  A  considerable  force  was  collected  on  the  coast  of  Belgic 
Gaul.  While  the  army  was  embarking,  Caligula  went  on  board  a  gal- 
ley, and  was  rowed  towards  Britain :  but  being  told  that  the  enemy 
were  in  force  upon  their  coast,  waiting  the  attack,  he  speedily  return- 
ed, and  harangued  his  army,  as  if  the  Britons  were  in  view.  The 
charge  was  sounded,  and  the  troops,  by  their  Emperor's  command — 

*  These  were  not  the  first  reports  about  frightful  animals,  probably  seals. 
The  ocean  wild  that  roars, 
With  monster-bearing  waves,  round  Britain's  rocky  shores." 

Horace,  B.  IV.  Ode  XIV. 


The  words  Tascio,  Tascia,  Tascie,  are  said  to  be  derived  from  Taxatio,  and 
mean  tribute  money.  For  further  information,  see  Pegge's  Essay;  Cam- 
den's Britannia;  and  H.  Moll's  Description  of  England. 

11  &  12    Are  Saxon,  (Sancti  Petri  Moneta,)  coined  at  Eboracum. 

2  A.  The  head  Caracalla.  The  reverse  represents  a  ship  built  in  an  amphi- 
theatre at  Rome;  from  which  400  wild  beasts  were  let  out  at  once.  See  notes 
on  Severus  in  this  Ch.  and  Ch.  XI.  The  medal  is  in  A.  Morellius,  8vo. 
Lipsiae,  1695.    Specimen  Universae  Rei  Nummariae,  &c. 

13  A.    Two  sides  of  an  Altar  for  sacrificing,  and  the  implements:  it  was  found  at 

Ribchester,  near  Preston ;  (where  many  curious  Roman  antiquities  have 
been  dug-  up). 

14  A.    The  bottom  of  a  broken  sacrificing  cup.    (Found  at  Ribchester). 

15  A.    Maximian.    This  Emperor's  history  is  imperfectly  known.    He  had  a  tri- 

umph for  exploits  in  Britain;  and  the  Roman  fleet  commanded  by  him 
was  overpowered  by  that  of  the  British  Emperor  Carausius,  oft*  the  Isle  of 
Wight. 


ZZ  2 


358  A  TOWN.— TEMPLES.— THEATRES. 

C^AP.  pire*."  Claudius,  being  victorious,  encamped  at  Camelodunum,  the 
w^-v^w1  royal  seat,  with  three  legions.  A  large  well-built  town  was  immedi- 
ately erected,  with  temples,  theatres,  &c. 

Togodumnus  being  killed,  it  was  at  this  period  that  Arviragus,  ano- 
ther son  of  Cunobeline,  is  supposed  to  have  been  placed  on  the  throne 
at  Camelodunum  f . 

After  six  months'  absence,  the  Emperor  returned  to  Rome :  he  had 
been  but  sixteen  days  in  Britain,  The  senate  decreed  him  a  triumph, 
and  to  him,  and  to  his  son,  the  surname  of  Britannicus.  The  pub- 
lic rejoicings  lasted  many  days.  Claudius  presided  in  his  general's 
cloak,  and  represented,  in  the  field  of  Mars,  the  sacking  of  a  town,  and 
the  surrender  of  the  British  kings  J. 

The  Britons,  having  been  left  in  possession  of  their  goods,  erected 
a  temple  to  the  Emperor  at  Camelodunum,  and  paid  him  divine 
honours. 

Plautius,  Vespasian,  and  his  son  Titus,  (then  a  military  tribune)  car- 
ried on  the  war  with  great  reputation.  Vespasian,  whom  Claudius 
had  associated  in  the  direction  of  this  conquest,  captured  some  chiefs, 
gained  near  thirty  battles  in  the  southern  provinces ;  and  conquered 
the  Isle  of  Wight.  In  one  of  the  conflicts,  Vespasian  was  surrounded, 
and  in  danger  of  being  killed,  but  was  valiantly  rescued  by  Ti- 

*  Milton,  Vol.  II.  p.  21. 

t  The  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Claudius  being  apart  of  Tacitus  which  is  lost, 
has  created  uncertainty  with  respect  to  the  period  of  Arviragus.  Hector  Boethius 
(an  author  of  little  reputation)  relates  that  he  was  placed  on  the  throne  by  Claudius. 
Shakespear,  in  his  play  of  Cymbeline,  (spelt  Kymbeline  by  Milton  in  his  Histo- 
ry), calls  him  the  youngest  son  of  Cunobeline.  Juvenal,  Sat.  IV.  127,  proves  that 
he  was  living  in  Domitian's  reign.  Claudius  invaded  the  island  in  the  year  43. 
Domitiau  began  his  reign  in  the  year  81 .  Therefore  the  above  account  of  him  is  pos- 
sibly the  truth,  but  cannot  be  depended  on.— See  Camden;  and  Dr.  Pegge,  p.  78. 

t  Suetonius,  Ch.  XXI. 


DIGNITIES  GRANTED  TO  VESPASIAN  AND  PLAUTUS.  359 

tus  *.    Great  dignities  and  honours  were  granted  to  Vespasian,  at  9*?^- 
Rome,  for  his  victories  f .  "~*>—y-^ 

On  the  return  of  Plautius  to  Italy,  the  Emperor  met  him  without 
the  gate  of  Rome,  and  in  his  carriage  gave  him  the  right  hand  seat, 
as  they  entered,  in  token  of  his  high  applause :  an  ovation  also  was 
granted  to  this  meritorious  officer,  who  had,  among  his  other  exploits, 
gained  a  victory  over  Caractacus.    A.J).  47. 

Ostorius  Scapula  succeeded  Plautius  as  propraetor,  (A.  D.  50.) — 
He  found  Britain  in  great  combustion  and  uproar.  Since  a  peace 
made  by  restraint,  is  never  sincere,  and  could  not  insure  repose,  he 
determined  to  deprive  of  their  arms  all  those  whom  he  suspected, 
and  to  confine  them  between  the  rivers  Avon  and  Severn  :  a  determi- 
nation at  first  thwarted  by  the  Icenians,  a  powerful  people,  who  had  of 
their  own  accord  confederated  with  the  Romans,  and  who  were  not 
weakened  by  the  assaults  of  war:  the  bordering  nations  joined  them, 
and  an  army  was  formed. 

The  place  they  chose  was  defended  by  a  ditch,  and  the  approach  to 
it  was  not  passable  by  cavalry.  The  Roman  general,  without  the 
support  of  the  legions,  ranged  his  cohorts,  dismounted  the  horse, 
forced  the  ditch,  and  broke  the  enemy,  who  performed  many  feats  of 
bravery.  Marcus  Ostorius,  the  general's  son,  having,  in  this  battle, 
saved  the  life  of  a  Roman  citizen,  acquired  the  civic  crown.  The 
overthrow  of  the  Icenians  calmed  those  unsettled  spirits,  who  were 
before  wavering  between  peace  and  war,  says  Tacitus,  and  the  Ro- 

*  Dion  Cassius,  "  Claudius." 

f  O  thou,  to  whom  the  unfrequented  sea 

Reserved  the  honour  of  discovery! 

"When  Caledonia's  waves  thy  vessel  bore, 

Those  waves  that  Phrygia's  race  disdain'd  before. 

Valerius  Flaccus  to  Vespasian.    Camden,  Vol.  I.  p.xli. 


BRAVERY  OF  THE  SILURES. 

mans  were  led  against  the  Cangians,  (Cheshire  and  Lancashire),  whose 
territories  were  ravaged. 

The  Roman  army  having  reached  the  shore  opposite  Ireland,  the 
general  was  informed  that  commotions  had  begun  among  the  Brigantes, 
and  he  returned  thither.  A  few  who  had  raised  the  revolt  were  exe- 
cuted, and  the  rest  were  pardoned :  but  no  rigour  or  mercy  could  re- 
claim the  Silures,  (South  Wales),  who  were  to  be  reduced  only  by  the 
legions.  To  facilitate  this  design,  a  colony,  powerful  in  the  number 
of  veterans,  was  conveyed  to  Camelodunum,  to  inure  their  allies  to  the 
Roman  laws  and  jurisdiction.  To  the  British  king  Cogidunus  cer- 
tain communities  were  given:  a  prince  who  very  long  remained  faith- 
ful to  the  Romans. 

From  Camelodunum  the  Roman  army  marched  against  the  Silures, 
a  people  resolute  and  fierce  by  nature ;  and,  moreover,  confiding  in  the 
valour  of  Caractacus  *,  renowned  for  disasters,  and  surpassing  all  the 
other  British  commanders.  In  the  advantages  and  situation  of  the  coun- 
try he  was  more  expert  than  the  Romans,  and  therefore  translated  the 
seat  of  war  into  the  territory  of  the  Ordovices,  (North  Wales) :  and 
being  joined  by  those  who  feared  an  unequal  peace  with  their  oppo- 
nents, he  ventured  to  try  the  decision  of  the  sword. 

He  chose  a  place  every  way  incommodious  to  the  Romans  f .  It 
was  on  the  ridges  of  steep  mountains :  and  where  the  sides  were  ap- 
proachable, he  reared  walls  of  stone  as  ramparts.  At  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  flowed  a  river,  dangerous  to  be  forded ;  and  a  host  of  men 
guarded  his  entrenchments.  The  leaders  of  the  confederate  nations 
were  busy,  from  quarter  to  quarter,  exhorting  and  animating  their 

*  Caerguent  in  Monmouthshire,  was  his  capital. 

f  Caer  Caradoc,  two  miles  south  of  Clun,  and  three  from  Coxal,  in  Shropshire. 
The  ramparts  are  still  visible,  in  the  nineteenth  century. 


DEFEAT  OF  THE  BRITONS.  361 
followers:  Caractacus  flew  through  the  whole  army  and  proclaimed  CHAP. 
"  That  from  this  battle  they  must  date  their  liberty  rescued ;  or  their  ^~y~^> 
servitude  eternally  established."    He  invoked  those  of  their  ancestors 
who  had  exterminated  Caesar  the  Dictator ;  "  men  by  whose  valour 
they  yet  lived  from  tribute,  and  the  Roman  axes,— -yet  preserved  from 
prostitution  the  persons  of  their  children  and  wives." 

This  loud  alacrity  of  the  Britons,  amazed  the  Roman  general.  The 
river,  the  ramparts,  the  declivities,  and  the  hosts  of  the  enemy  were 
terrible  difficulties.  But  the  soldiers  and  the  tribunes  were  ardent 
for  the  attack.  Thus  animated,  Ostorius  led  them  on ;  and,  without 
much  difficulty,  gained  the  opposite  bank.  In  approaching  the  bul- 
wark, while  the  encounter  was  with  flights  of  darts,  more  of  the 
Romans  than  of  the  Britons  were  wounded,  and  many  began  to 
fall :  but  after  they  had  formed  themselves  into  the  testudo,  or  mili- 
tary shell,  demolished  the  huge  and  shapeless  structure  of  stones,  and 
encountered  hand  to  hand  upon  even  ground,  the  barbarians,  says 
Tacitus,  betook  themselves  to  the  ridges  of  the  mountains,  and  were 
pursued  by  the  light  and  heavy  armed  Romans,  who  fought  in  close 
order,  while  the  Britons  only  discharged  their  arrows;  and,  as  they 
do  not  wear  armour,  their  ranks  were  broken.  Where  they  resisted 
the  auxiliaries,  they  were  slaughtered  by  the  swords  and  javelins  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  legions ;  and  by  the  great  sabres  and  pikes  of  the  auxi- 
liaries, where  they  faced  those  of  the  legions.  Signal  was  this  victory. 
The  wife  and  daughter  of  Caractacus  were  taken  prisoners  and  his 
brother  surrendered  to  mercy  *. 

The  British  king,  after  nine  years'  opposition  to  the  Romans,  fled 
for  protection  to  his  stepmother,  Cartismandua,  queen  of  the  Brigan- 
tesf;  but  adversity,  says  the  Roman  historian,  has  no  friends:  she 


*  Tacitus,  An.  XII. 


f  Yorkshire,  Lancashire,  Westmoreland,  &c. 


362  HEROIC  CONDUCT  AND  GREAT  FAME  OF  CARACTACUS. 

CHAP,  loaded  him  with  irons,  and  delivered  him  up  to  the  conqueror:  he, 
\^e~v~^>  with  his  family,  was  sent  to  Rome.  The  Emperor  was  proud  of  his 
captive ;  and  the  curiosity  of  the  Romans  was  eager  to  behold  a  hero 
whose  fame  had  become  celebrated  even  in  Italy,  from  having  so  long 
withstood  the  Roman  arms.  At  the  solemn  procession  of  the  British 
captives  into  Rome,  the  military  accoutrements,  the  golden  chains 
and  rich  collars,  which  the  king  had  gained  in  various  battles,  were 
displayed  with  pomp.  All  the  prisoners  descended  to  abject  supplica- 
tions, unworthy  of  their  quality,  says  Tacitus,  except  Caractacus,  who, 
with  dignity  and  unshaken  fortitude,  addressed  the  tribunal,  on  the 
nobility  of  his  birth,  his  former  power,  his  actions,  and  his  present  fate. 
"  If  you  are  bent  on  vengeance,"  said  he,  "  execute  your  purpose,  and 
the  bloody  scene  will  soon  be  at  an  end.  Preserve  my  life,  and  I  shall 
remain  a  monument  of  Roman  clemency."  Claudius  was  charmed 
with  the  heroic  boldness  of  his  prisoner,  and  pardoned  him  and  his 
family.  The  captives  were  all  unbound,  and  submissively  returned 
thanks  to  the  Emperor,  and  his  Empress  Agrippina,  who  were  seated 
in  state,  in  the  midst  of  the  cohorts.  When  the  senate  was  assembled, 
many  and  pompous  encomiums  were  pronounced  on  the  taking  of  Ca- 
ractacus, as  an  event  no  less  illustrious  than  the  capture  of  Syphax  by 
Publius  Scipio,  Perses  by  Lucius  Paulus,  or  any  other  conquered 
kings,  which  the  great  captains  had  presented  to  the  Roman  people*. 

*  Caractacus  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Cunobeline,  whose  family  appears  to  have 
been  the  most  powerful  in  Britain.  Since  the  visit  of  Julius  Caesar,  great  progress 
had  been  made  in  civilization.  Always  shewing-  bravery,  but  not  polished,  tbe 
Britons  do  not  appear  to  have  had  justice  done  them.  How  could  Tacitus  venture 
to  compare  this  capture  as  equal  in  fame  to  those  of  the  sovereigns  of  Africa  and 
Macedon,  if  they  were  the  barbarians  that  they  are  in  general  in  English  histo- 
ry represented  to  have  been?  Probably,  most  readers  form  their  opinion  of  the  Bri- 
tons from  the  account  of  them  in  Caesar's  Commentaries,  without  taking  into  consi- 
deration the  great  change  that  was  quickly  effected  by  their  intercourse  with  the 


COURAGE  AND  CONDUCT  OF  THE  SILURES.  363 

The  triumphal  ornaments  were  decreed  to  Ostorius.    The  brave  Bri-  CHAP, 
tish  king,  when  conducted  through  Rome  to  survey  its  grandeur — 
«  Why  are  you  Romans,"  said  he,  "  who  live  in  such  magnificence,  so 
desirous  to  possess  our  country?" 

The  Romans,  perhaps,  thought  that  the  capture  of  Caractacus  had 
finished  the  war:  but  the  Britons,  burning  for  revenge  at  the  loss  of 
so  great  a  king,  by  surprise  assailed  the  camp-marshal  and  legion- 
ary cohorts  left  to  raise  fortresses  in  the  country  of  the  Silures ;  and, 
but  for  sudden  succours  from  the  circumjacent  garrisons, "  our  troops" 
says  Tacitus,  "had  been  cut  in  pieces;  as  it  was,  the  marshal  himself 
and  eight  centurions  were  there  slain,  with  the  most  resolute  soldiers." 
Soon  after,  the  foragers,  and  even  the  Roman  troops  sent  to  guard 
them,  were  entirely  routed.  Ostorius  despatched  to  their  relief  some 
cohorts  lightly  armed,  but  they  were  not  able  to  stay  the  flight,  so 
that  the  legions  were  drawn  out  to  restore  the  battle  ;  which,  by  their 
strength,  instantly  became  equal.  The  Britons  fled ;  but,  as  the  night 
approached,  with  slight  loss.  Frequent  encounters  continued  in  woods 
and  morasses;  sometimes  by  command  of  their  officers,  and  often 
without  their  knowledge. 

Of  all  others,  the  Silures  were  the  most  implacable  :  they  were  in- 
censed by  a  saying  of  the  Roman  general,  current  amongst  them, 
"  that  their  name  must  be  utterly  extinguished,  as  was  that  of  the 
Sugambrians,  who  had  been  partly  cut  off,  and  the  rest  transplanted 
into  Gaul."  Thus  animated,  they  surprised  and  carried  off  two  auxili- 
ary cohorts,  who  were  plundering  the  country  to  satiate  the  avarice 

Romans.  The  term,  Barbarians,  was  applied,  by  the  Romans,  to  all  nations  except 
the  Greeks;  as  it  was  by  the  Egyptians  to  all  who  did  not  speak  their  language. 
See  Herodotus,  Clio,  Ch.  I.  Note  2;  Euterpe,  Ch.  CLVIII.  The  subsequent 
fate  of  Caractacus  is  not  known.  See  Plate  I.  Coin  A  6.  for  a  likeness  of  this 
celebrated  person. 


AAA  2 


OSTORIUS  SCAPULA  DIES  OF  ANXIETY. 

of  their  officers;  and  the  Britons  by  distributing  the  spoil  and  cap- 
tives among  the  neighbouring  nations,  were  drawing  them  also  into 
the  revolt,  when  Ostorius,  sinking  under  the  weight  of  his  anxieties, 
expired;  to  the  great  joy  of  the  enemy,  that  so  considerable  a  captain 
had  perished  in  the  war. 

The  Emperor  Claudius  immediately  sent  over  Aulus  Didius;  but, 
before  he  could  arrive,  the  legion  commanded  by  Manlius  Valens  had 
suffered  a  defeat.  Didius  now  attacked  and  repulsed  the  Britons. 
Their  ablest  warrior,  since  the  capture  of  Caractacus,  was  Venusius, 
of  the  city  of  the  Jugantes ;  a  man  long  faithful  to  the  Romans,  and 
protected  by  their  arms,  during  his  marriage  with  Cartismandua,  Queen 
of  the  Brigantes;  but  being  divorced  from  her,  and  opposing  her  in 
war,  he  likewise  began  hostilities  against  the  Romans.  The  queen 
having,  by  stratagem,  possessed  herself  of  the  brother  and  other  kin- 
dred of  Venusius,  he  was  exasperated;  and,  scorning  the  infamy  of  fall- 
ing under  the  dominion  of  a  woman,  assembled  all  the  ablest  and  most 
warlike  youth,  and  invaded  her  territories.  The  Romans  perceiving 
this,  had  sent  some  cohorts  to  the  queen's  aid ;  and,  after  a  fierce  bat- 
tle, she  was  victorius.  Didius,  unwieldy  with  age,  and  satiated  with 
honours,  acted  by  his  lieutenants ;  and  the  legion  commanded  by  Ce- 
sius  Nasica  was  successful  against  the  Britons*. 

The  Emperor  Claudius  was  poisoned,  A.  D.  54  f. 

Avitus  had  succeeded  Aulus  Didius.  At  this  time  the  Romans 
suffered  great  loss  in  Britain ;  and  Avitus  could  but  just  maintain  his 
conquests.  He  was  replaced  by  Veranius,  who  ravaged  some  part  of 
the  country  of  the  Silures,  but  was  intercepted  by  death.    He  flattered 

*  Tacitus,  An.  XII. 

f  When  Claudius  was  sick,  Nero  presented  the  people  with  a  hunting  of  wild 
beasts,  for  his  health.  Suetonius,  Nero,  Ch.  VII.  This  was  probably  by  the  or- 
der of  Agrippina. 


ANGLESEA.— DRUIDS.— TYRANNY  OF  THE  ROMANS. 


365 


Nero  in  his  will,  and  added,  "  that  if  his  life  had  been  prolonged  for  two  CHAP. 


On  the  shores  of  the  island,  where  the  Britons  were  drawn  up,  the 
Romans  were  amazed  at  the  sight  of  women,  with  their  hair  disheveled, 
and  fire-brands  in  their  hands,  frantic  and  furious,  surrounded  by  Dru- 
ids, with  uplifted  hands,  and  pouring  out  bitter  and  direful  impreca- 
tions on  the  invaders.  The  astonished  and  dismayed  Romans  paused 
and  stood  motionless  with  terror.  Exhorted  repeatedly  by  their  ge- 
neral, they  at  length  fell  on  the  enemy,  sword  in  hand,  and  conquered 
Mona.  In  the  mean  while,  Prasatugus,  long  renowned  for  his  opulence  a.D.  60. 
and  grandeur,  king  of  the  Icenians,  died,  and  left  Nero  co-heir,  with 
his  two  daughters,  of  his  great  treasures:  but  the  Emperor's  officers 
seized  the  whole  in  the  name  of  their  master  f .  The  widow,  Boadi- 
cea,  remonstrating  against  this  injustice,  underwent  the  ignominious 
violence  of  stripes,  and  her  daughters  were  brutally  dishonoured.  In- 
dignant at  this  infamous  conduct,  all  the  Britons  subjected  to  the  Ro- 
mans, (except  London),  revolted.  The  Trinobantes  were  particularly 
exasperated  by  the  Roman  veterans  having  turned  them  out  of  their 
houses,  and  debased  them  by  the  vile  titles  of  captives  and  slaves. 

Catus  Decianus,  the  procurator,  regardless  of  law  or  justice,  confis- 
cated the  property  guarantied  by  the  decree  of  Claudius.  Seneca, 
the  moralist  and  philosopher,  having  lent  the  Britons  about  three 


years  longer,  he  should  have  completely  subjected  that  province  to 
his  obedience."  Suetonius  Paulinus  was  appointed  to  the  command. 
He  invaded  Mona,  (Anglesea),  the  common  refuge  of  revolters  and  fu- 
gitives, and  where  the  captives  were  sacrificed  in  the  consecrated 
groves*. 


XIII. 


*  Tacitus,  An.  XIV. 

%  The  country  of  the  Iceni  was  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and  Cambridgeshire.  Venta 
Icenorum  (now  Caster,  near  Norwich,)  was  their  capital. 


366 


TERRIBLE  MASSACRE  LONDON  BURNT. 


CHAP,  hundred  thousand  pounds  on  usurious  interest,  exacted  rigorously,  on 
XIII 

a  sudden,  the  repayment.  (A.  D.  61). 


At  this  period,  says  Tacitus,  the  statue  of  victory  at  Camelodunura 
tumbled  down,  with  her  face  turned  round ;  some  women  were  trans- 
ported with  oracular  fury,  and  chaunted  destruction  to  be  at  hand.  In 
the  places  of  public  business  the  accent  and  tumultuous  murmurs  of 
strangers  were  heard:  their  theatre  echoed  with  dismal  howlings;  and 
in  the  lakes,  formed  by  the  tides  resisting  the  Thames,  a  representa- 
tion was  seen  of  a  colony  overthrown.  The  sea  was  dyed  with  blood, 
and  phantoms  of  human  bodies  appeared  left  behind  on  the  strand. 
These  omens  filled  the  Britons  with  joy  and  hope:  the  Romans  were 
cast  down  with  fear  and  despondency*.  They  sought  succours  from 
the  procurator  of  the  province,  who  sent  them  only  two  hundred  men ; 
and  there  was  but  a  small  number  in  the  colony  itself. 

The  Britons  rose ;  and  every  thing  at  Camelodunum  yielded  to  in- 
stant violence,  and  was  razed  or  burnt  f .  The  temple  stood  a  siege  of 
two  days,  all  the  soldiers  having  retired  thither;  and  was  then  taken 
by  storm.  Petilius  Cerialis,  commander  of  the  ninth  legion,  as  he  ad- 
vanced to  relieve  his  friend,  was  met  and  encountered  by  the  victo- 
rious Britons :  his  legion  was  routed,  and  all  his  infantry  were  slain. 
Cerialis,  with  the  horse,  escaped  to  the  camp,  and  there  defended  him- 
self in  his  entrenchments. 

The  terrified  procurator,  universally  hated  by  the  province,  driven 
thus  into  hostility,  by  his  rapacious  avarice,  fled  into  Gaul  + 

Suetonius  bravely  marched  through  the  heart  of  the  insurrection 
quite  to  London,  "  a  city,  in  truth,  not  distinguished  with  the  title  of  a 
colony,  but  highly  famed  for  the  vast  conflux  of  traders,  and  her  abun- 


*  See  Dion  Cassius,  Vol.  1,  p.  345. 
f  The  town,  Pliny  relates,  was  quickly  restored.  %  Tacitus,  An.  XIV. 


EDICT  OF  NERO  RELATING  TO  WILD  BEASTS.  367 

dant  commerce  and  plenty.    Suetonius  feared  to  make  London  his  head-  CHAP. 

XIII. 

quarters,  in  consequence  of  the  small  number  of  his  troops.  Many  of  v^-^-O 
the  inhabitants  left  London  with  him:  whoever  staid  behind,  whether 
from  the  weakness  of  their  sex,  the  decrepitude  of  age,  or  the  charms 
of  the  place,  fell,  without  exception;  and  London  was  reduced  to  ashes. 
The  like  slaughter  befel  the  municipal  city  of  Verulamium,  (St.  Ai-  a.D.  CI. 
bans).  It  appeared  that  seventy  thousand  Romans  or  confederates  of 
Rome,  for  the  Britons  neither  made,  nor  sold,  nor  exchanged  prison- 
ers, were  gibbeted,  burnt,  or  crucified,  with  the  desperation  of  men 
who  were  sure  of  undergoing  a  terrible  doom,  and  who  resolved,  by 
anticipation,  to  spill  the  blood  of  others  before  their  own  was 
spilt*." 

In  the  battle  that  followed,  Suetonius  had  ten  thousand  men  only, 
while  the  queen's  army  is  said  by  Dion  Cassius,  to  have  consisted  of 
two  hundred  and  thirty  thousand,  confident  in  their  courage  and 
numbers.    Suetonius  chose  a  place  which  stretched  out  before  into  a 


*  A  short  time  previous  to  the  massacre,  the  Emperor,  says  Tacitus,  issued  an 
edict,  "  That  no  procurator,  or  any  other  magistrate,  who  had  obtained  a  charge 
in  any  province,  should  exhibit  a  spectacle  of  gladiators  or  wild  beasts,  nor  of  any 
other  popular  entertainment  whatsoever;  for,  before  this,  they  had,  by  such  acts  of 
munificence,  no  less  afflicted  those  under  their  jurisdiction,  than  by  plundering 
them  of  their  money,  whilst,  under  the  influence  of  such  court  to  the  multitude, 
they  sheltered  their  arbitrary  delinquencies  and  rapine."  Claudius  sent  his  army 
to  Britain,  A.  J).  48.  Nero  succeeded  Claudius  in  the  year  54.  The  massacre 
was  in  the  year  61.  This  remarkable  edict  was  issued  not  long  before  the  massa- 
cre, which  happened  when  the  Romans  had  been  in  the  possession  of  Britain 
for  fifteen  or  sixteen  years,  and  had  very  probably  been  entertaining  the  natives 
with  the  novel  and  extraordinary  shows,  and  battles  of  wild  beasts,  at  exorbitant 
charges.  Seneca's  loans  are  a  proof  that  no  one  was  scrupulous  of  profiting  by  a 
newly  conquered  and  rich  country.  Tacitus  remarks,  (Life  of  Agricola),  that  Bri- 
tain had  sufficient  gold  and  silver  amply  to  reward  all  the  toils  and  dangers  of  its 
conquerors,  besides  its  great  wealth  in  mines. 


368 


HEROISM  AND  DEATH  OF  BOADICEA. 


CHAP,    hollow  and  narrow  vale,  with  steep  sides,  and  was  behind  girt  in  with 
XIII. 
^^-^j  wood. 

The  heroine,  with  her  daughters  at  her  side,  in  the  chariot,  rode 
among  the  several  nations,  animating  them  to  revenge  the  wrongs  they 
suffered,  from  the  lust  of  their  oppressors :  besides,  added  she,  "  you 
pay  a  tax  for  your  very  bodies  ;  my  resolution  is,  to  vanquish  or  die : 
as  for  the  men,  they  may,  if  they  please,  live  and  be  slaves."  At  the 
end  of  her  speech,  she  let  loose  a  hare,  which  she  had  concealed  in  her 
bosom,  as  a  good  omen  of  victory. 

The  Britons  were  slain  to  the  number  of  eighty  thousand;  while  the 
Romans  had  but  eight  hundred  killed  and  wounded:  so  superior  is 
discipline  to  numbers  and  the  most  desperate  courage.  The  unhappy 
queen  poisoned  herself. 

Poenius  Postumus,  camp-marshal  to  the  second  legion,  on  the  tid- 
ings of  the  exploits  and  success  of  the  fourteenth  and  twentieth  legions ; 
as  he  had  defrauded  bis  own  of  equal  honour,  and,  contrary  to  the  laws 
of  military  duty,  had  disobeyed  the  orders  of  his  general,  pierced 
himself  through  with  his  sword. 

Suetonius  received  strong  reinforcements  from  Germany*,  while 
the  Britons  were  dying  in  numbers  by  famine ;  having  neglected  to 
cultivate  the  ground  f. 

Besides  that,  this  people,  by  nature  wonderfully  stubborn,  says  Taci- 

*  On  the  losing  of  Britain  and  Armenia,  Nero  thought  that  he  had  run  through 
all  the  misfortunes  the  Fates  had  decreed  him.    Suetonius,  Ch.  XL. 

t  About  this  period,  or  later,  a  Roman  senator  married  a  British  lady  named 
Claudia  Rufina,  an  accomplished  beauty.  Rapin,  (Vol.  I.  p.  14,)  supposes  this 
lady  to  be  one  of  the  Saints  mentioned  by  St.  Paul.   See  Milton's  8vo  edit.  p.  93. 

"  From  painted  Britons  how  was  Claudia  born? 

The  fair  barbarian  how  do  arts  adorn|'?. 

When  Roman  charms  a  Grecian  soul  commend, 

Athens  and  Rome  may  for  the  dame  contend."  Martial. 


NERO'S  AMBASSADOR  DERIDED. 


369 


tus,  were  become  more  averse  to  peace,  from  the  behaviour  of  Julius  CHAP. 

XIII. 

Classicianus,  who  had  arrived  as  successor  to  Catus ;  and,  being  at  v^-v-=**. 
variance  with  Suetonius,  he  obstructed  the  public  good,  to  gratify  pri- 
vate pique ;  every  where  publishing,  that  another  governor  was  ex- 
pected, who  was  free  from  the  arrogance  of  a  conqueror.  He  trans- 
mitted advice  to  Rome  of  the  necessity  of  a  change,  charging  all  the 
recent  disasters  to  the  bad  conduct  of  Suetonius.  Nero  despatched  to 
Britain  Polycletus,  one  of  the  imperial  freedmen,  conceiving  mighty 
hopes,  that,  by  the  authority  of  his  domestic,  private  amity  between 
the  governor  and  procurator  would  not  only  be  effected,  but  that  the 
hostile  spirit  of  the  Britons  would  be  reconciled  to  peace.  Polycletus 
travelled  through  Italy  and  Gaul,  and  oppressed  both  with  his  enor- 
mous train;  and  thence  crossing  the  Channel,  he  marched  in  such 
awful  state,  that  he  became  a  terror  even  to  the  Roman  soldiers.  To 
the  Britons  he  proved  an  object  of  derision :  for,  as  amongst  them  po- 
pular liberty  even  then  reigned,  they  were  hitherto  utter  strangers  to 
the  power  of  manumitted  bondsmen.  They  were  amazed,  that  a  gene- 
ral and  army  who  had  finished  so  formidable  a  war,  should  be  subser- 
vient to  slaves.  From  the  report  of  Polycletus,  Suetonius  was 
continued  in  the  government;  but  having  lost  a  few  gallies  and  their 
rowers,  he  was  ordered  to  resign  his  army  to  Petronius  Turpilianus, 
who  had  just  finished  his  consulship ;  a  commander,  who,  on  his  stupid 
inaction,  bestowed  the  appellation  of  peace*.  His  successor,  Tre- 
bellius  Maximus,  fled  out  of  Britain,  scared  by  the  fury  and  me- 
naces of  the  soldiers,  and  was  succeeded  by  Vettius  Bolanusf,  in  the 
reign  of  Vitellius. 

Petilius  Cerealis,  of  consular  dignity,  was  sent  by  Vespasian,  as  go- 
vernor, to  Britain. 


*  Tacitus. 


f  Tacitus,  History,  B.  II. 

BBB 


370  QUEEN  OF  THE  BRIGANTES. — VENUSIUS. 

^3AF'       In  that  island  the  affection  for  Vespasian  was  great.    He  had  com- 
v^-.^v-w'  manded  the  second  legion  there  in  the  reign  of  Claudius,  and  acquit- 
ed  himself  with  great  glory. 

The  troops  in  that  country  acceded  to  his  party;  but  not  without 
opposition  from  the  other  legions ;  in  which  many  centurions,  and 
many  soldiers  had  been  promoted  by  Vitellius,  and  were  brought  with 
regret  to  change  a  prince  of  whom  they  had  already  had  some  experi- 
ence. 

A.D.  69.  From  these  contests  and  reports  of  civil  war  in  Italy,  the  Britons, 
swayed  by  Venusius,  who  hated  the  Roman  name,  and  was  at  personal 
enmity  with  Cartismandua,  the  queen  of  the  Brigantes,  resumed  hos- 
tilities. This  lady  was  illustrious  in  her  race,  and  her  power  had  been 
greatly  augmented  since  the  merit  she  enjoyed  of  having  given  up  Ca- 
ractacus  to  the  Romans.  Hence  her  opulence  and  wild  riot  in  pros- 
perity. Rejecting  her  husband  Venusius,  she  conferred  her  person 
and  crown  on  Vellocatus,  his  armour-bearer.  By  this  reproachful  ac- 
tion the  queen  wrought  the  present  ruin  of  her  house.  The  Brigantes 
revolted  in  favour  of  Venusius.  Cartismandua,  by  the  Roman  squad- 
rons and  cohorts,  was  rescued  from  impending  danger :  but  the  king- 
dom remained  to  Venusius,  and  the  war  to  the  Romans*. 

Cerealis  defeated  the  Brigantes  in  several  battles,  some  of  which 

A.  D.  74.  were  very  bloody,  Vespasian  had  sent  off  to  Italy  many  British  recruits, 
during  his  war  with  Vitellius.  Julius  Frontinus  was  now  governor ; 
he  in  his  turn  had  to  sustain  this  mighty  task ;  and  utterly  subdued 
the  powerful  Silures. 

Such  was  now  the  condition  of  Britain.  Who  were  the  first  in- 
habitants of  the  island,  cannot  be  known,  says  Tacitus,  among  a  people 
so  barbarous.   In  their  looks  and  persons,  they  vary.    The  red  hair 


Tacitus,  History,  B.  III.  Ch.  XLTII. 


BRITONS  DESCRIBED.— CLIMATE.  37 

and  large  limbs  of  the  Caledonians  testify  their  descent  to  be  from  CHAP. 

XIII 

Germany.  The  swarthy  complexion  of  the  Silures,  and  their  hair,  vs-«»»v-^. 
which  is  generally  curled,  with  their  situation,  opposite  the  coast  of 
Spain,  furnish  ground  to  believe  that  they  are  descendants  from  the 
ancient  Iberians.  They  who  live  next  to  Gaul,,  are  like  the  Gauls : 
their  sacred  rights  and  superstitions  are  the  same;  their  speech  does 
not  much  vary ;  in  daring  dangers  they  are  prompted  by  the  like  bold- 
ness, and  with  the  like  affright  avoid  them  when  they  approach.  In 
the  Britons,  however,  superior  ferocity  and  defiance  is  found,  as  in  a 
people  not  yet  softened  by  a  long  peace;  for  we  learn  from  history 
that  the  Gauls,  too,  flourished  in  warlike  prowess  and  renown ;  but 
that  with  peace  and  idleness,  effeminacy  entered ;  and  thus,  with  the 
loss  of  their  liberty,  they  lost  their  spirit  and  magnanimity.  The  same 
happened  to  those  of  the  Britons  who  were  conquered  long  ago.  The 
rest  continue  such  as  the  Gauls  once  were. 

Their  principal  force  consists  in  their  foot.  Some  nations  among 
them  make  war  in  chariots.  The  more  honourable  person  always 
drives,  and  under  his  leading,  his  followers  fight.  They  were  formerly 
subject  to  kings.  They  are  now  swayed  by  several  chiefs,  and  rent 
into  factions  and  parties.  Against  nations  thus  powerful,  nought 
avails  the  Romans  so  much  as  that  they  consult  not  in  a  body. 

The  sky  of  the  island  is  dull  and  heavy;  but  there  is  not  excessive 
cold.  The  soil  is  such,  that  except  the  olive  and  the  vine,  it  readily 
bears  all  fruits  and  grain,  and  is  very  fertile ;  it  produces  quickly,  but 
from  the  extreme  humidity,  its  productions  ripen  slowly. 

Britain  yields  gold,  silver,  and  other  metals,  all  of  which  prove 
the  prize  and  reward  of  the  conquerors.  The  sea  breeds  pearls, 
but  of  a  dark  and  livid  hue,  a  defect  ascribed  by  some  to  the  unskilful- 
ness  of  those  who  gather  them :  for  myself,  continues  the  Roman  his- 


BBB  2 


372  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BRITONS. 

CHAP,  torian,  I  am  much  apter  to  believe  that  nature  has  not  given  these 
(y^-v-o  pearls  perfection,  than  that  we  fail  in  avarice. 

The  Britons  themselves  cheerfully  comply  with  the  levies  of  men, 
the  imposition  of  taxes,  and  all  the  duties  enjoined  by  government ; 
provided  they  receive  no  illegal  treatment  and  insults  from  their  go- 
vernors :  those  they  bear  with  impatience.  Nor  have  the  Romans  any 
farther  subdued  them,  than  only  to  obey  just  laws,  but  never  to  sub- 
mit to  be  slaves.  Even  the  deified  Julius  Csesar,  the  first  of  all  the 
Romans  who  entered  Britain  with  an  army,  though,  by  gaining  a  bat- 
tle, he  frightened  the  natives,  and  became  master  of  the  coast;  yet  he 
may  be  thought  to  have  rather  presented  posterity  with  a  view  of  the 
country,  than  to  have  conveyed  down  the  possession.  The  civil  wars 
ensuing,  Britain  was  long  forgotten,  and  continued  to  be  so  even  dur- 
ing peace.  This  was  what  Augustus  called  Reasons  of  State,  but 
what  Tiberius  stiled  the  Ordinance  of  Augustus*. 
A.D.  78.  Towards  the  end  of  Vespasian's  reign f,  (A.  D.  78),  Julius  Agricola, 
who  in  his  youth  had  been  trained  up  in  the  British  wars,  succeeded 
to  the  command;  a  general  of  the  highest  reputation.  He  entirely  de- 
feated the  Ordovices,  (North  Wales),  who  had  surprised  and  killed  a 
whole  squadron  of  Roman  horse. 

Mona  required  again  to  be  invaded.  Agricola,  by  his  sudden  attack, 
his  prudence  and  justice,  conciliated  that  island.  Such  was  his  discre- 
tion that  he  did  not  apply  this  his  good  fortune  and  success  to  any  pur- 
pose of  vain  glory :  nor  would  he  so  much  as  with  the  bare  honour  of  the 

*  Tacitus,  Life  of  Agricola. 
f  Referring*  to  this  period,  Josep  hus  writes,  "  As  for  those  who  place  so  much 
confidence  in  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  they  would  do  well  to  consider  the  walls  of 
Britain,  where  the  inhabitants  are  surrounded  by  the  sea  in  a  kind  of  a  new  world, 
not  much  inferior  to  the  other.  They  have  made  themselves  masters  of  this  vast 
island  too,  and  assigned  only  four  legions  as  a  guard  upon  it."  Wars  of  the  Jews, 
B.  II.  Ch.  XVI.  Sir  Roger  L'Estrange's  Ed. 


AGRICOLA,  HIS  PRUDENCE  AND  JUSTICE.  373 

laurel  distinguish  these  exploits.  Men  considered  how  vast  must  be  CHAP, 
his  future  views,  when  he  thus  smothered  in  silence  deeds  so  noble*,  k^^^j 
Being  acquainted  with  the  temper  of  the  Britons,  he  determined  to 
cut  off  all  the  causes  of  war.  Beginning  with  himself,  he  checked  and 
regulated  his  own  household;  a  task  which  to  many  is  not  less  diffi- 
cult than  governing  a  province.  He  did  not  permit  any  thing  which 
concerned  the  public  to  be  transacted  by  a  domestic,  bond  or  free. 

He  raised  the  soldiers  to  a  superior  class,  being  convinced  that  the 
best  are  ever  the  most  faithful.  For  small  offences  he  was  often  satis- 
fied with  the  remorse  of  the  culprit:  for  such  as  were  great  he  exer- 
cised proportionable  severity.  Though  the  imposition  of  tribute  and 
grain  had  been  augmented,  he  caused  it  to  be  adjusted  with  equality. 
The  inhabitants  had  been  forced  to  bear  the  mockery  of  attending  at 
their  own  barns,  locked  up  by  the  publicans,  and  of  purchasing  their  own 
corn  of  the  monopolists ;  they  had  moreover  been  enjoined  to  carry 
grain  across  the  countries  to  great  distances.  By  suppressing  these 
grievances,  Agricola  gained  a  high  character ;  for,  till  then,  a  state  of 
peace  had  been  no  less  dreaded  than  that  of  war. 

By  his  wise  and  mild  conduct,  several  communities,  which  till  now 
had  kept  their  independence,  ceased  hostility,  gave  hostages,  and  were 
begirt  with  garrisons  and  fortresses,  erected  with  such  just  contriv- 
ance, that  no  part  of  Britain  hitherto  known,  escaped  thenceforward 
from  being  annoyed  by  them.  The  following  winter  Agricola  pri- 
vately exhorted,  then  publicly  assisted,  the  Britons  to  build  temples 
and  houses  and  places  of  assembling.  He  was  taking  care  to  have  the 
sons  of  their  chiefs  taught  the  liberal  sciences,  already  preferring  the 

*  Tacitus.  We  may  perceive  and  admire  the  affectionate  partiality  of  this  ce- 
lebrated historian  for  his  father  in  law,  throughout  his  life  of  Agricola.  It  is  per- 
haps requisite  to  keep  this  in  mind,  when  trusting-  to  the  authority  of  Tacitus  con- 
cerning Agricola. 


374  PROGRESS  OF  CIVILIZATION. 

CflAP.  natural  capacity  of  the  Britons  to  the  studied  acquirement  of  the 
v-p-v-w^  Gauls;  and  such  was  his  success,  that  they  who  had  so  lately  scorned 
to  learn  the  language,  were  become  fond  of  acquiring  the  Roman  elo* 
quence.  They  began  to  honour  the  apparel,  and  the  use  of  the  Ro- 
man gown  grew  frequent  among  them.  By  degrees,  they  proceeded  to 
the  incitements  and  charms  of  vice  and  dissoluteness,  to  magnificent 
galleries,  sumptuous  bagnios,  and  all  the  stimulations  and  elegance  of 
banquetting.  In  the  third  year  of  his  command,  Agricola  discovered 
new  people,  and  continued  his  enterprises  quite  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Tay.  Terror  seized  the  inhabitants,  and  they  dared  not  attack  the 
Romans,  though  they  were  annoyed  and  shaken  by  terrible  tempests. 
The  Romans  secured  possession,  by  erecting  forts,  and  no  place  of 
strength  was  founded  by  Agricola,  that  was  ever  taken  by  violence : 
they  were  supplied  with  provisions  for  a  year ;  and  each  fortress  de- 
fended itself  through  the  winter :  which  reduced  the  Caledonians  to 
despair.  Agricola  never  arrogated  to  himself  the  glory  of  exploits  per- 
formed by  others :  were  he  a  centurion  or  the  commander  of  a  legion,  in 
his  general  he  found  a  sincere  witness  of  his  achievements.  By  some, 
he  is  said  to  have  been  over  sharp  in  his  reproofs,  but  from  his  anger 
no  spleen  remained. 

Vespasian  having  died,  Titus  continued  Agricola  in  the  command; 
this  Emperor*  expired  on  the  13th  of  September,  81;  and  Agricola 
remained  as  governor  under  Domitian  f .    Agricola  built  a  chain  of 

*  Titus  was  saluted  Emperor  no  less  than  fifteen  times  for  Agricola's  successes. 
Camden,  Vol.  I.  p.  xiii. 

f  Arviragus  was  living  in  Domitian's  reign. 

"  A  great  omen 
You  have  of  a  great  and  illustrious  triumph: 
You  will  take  some  king,  or  from  a  British  chariot 
Arviragus  will  fall."  Madan's  Juvenal,  Sat.  IV.  127. 


IRELAND. — INVASION  OF  CALEDONIA. 


375 


fortresses  from  the  Clyde  to  the  Frith  of  Forth ;  and  furnished  them  CHAP. 

XIII. 

with  garrisons,  to  secure  his  conquests  from  the  inroads  of  the  northern  ^^-v-**. 
tribes. 

"  In  the  fifth  year  of  the  war,  Agricola  passed  the  Frith  of  Forth, 
himself  being  in  the  first  ship  that  reached  the  land.  Here  he  sub- 
dued nations,  till  that  time  not  known;  and  placed  garrisons  on  the 
coast  of  Britain,  which  faces  Ireland ;  which  in  soil  and  climate,  as 
also  in  the  temper  and  manners  of  the  natives,  varies  little  from 
Britain ;  its  ports  and  landings  are  better  known,  through  the  frequen- 
cy of  commerce  and  merchants.  A  petty  king  of  that  country,  who 
had  been  expelled  by  domestic  dissension,  was  protected  by  Agri- 
cola  *. 

He  coasted  and  explored  the  large  communities  beyond  the  Frith. 
His  fleet  by  sea,  and  his  army  by  land,  made  a  glorious  appearance. 
The  same  camp  often  contained  the  foot,  the  horse,  and  the  marines ; 
all  intermixed,  and  severally  magnifying  their  own  feats  and  hazards 
amidst  dismal  forests,  steep  mountains,  and  tempestuous  seas.  The 
sight  of  the  fleet  struck  the  Britons  with  dismay.  The  last  refuge  of 
the  vanquished  was  now  invaded. 

The  intrepid  Caledonians  attacked  the  forts,  and  defied  the  invaders. 
Agricola  divided  his  army  into  three  parts,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
surrounding  him.  The  Caledonians,  availing  themselves  of  the  op- 
portunity thus  offered,  assaulted  the  ninth  legion  in  the  night,  slew 
the  guards,  and  entered  the  trenches :  they  were  pursuing  the  fight  in 
the  camp  itself  f,  in  the  gates  of  which  a  bloody  encounter  ensued. 
The  Caledonians  were  routed,  and  fled  to  the  woods  and  marshes. 


*  Tacitus. 

t  Supposed  to  be  at  Lochore,  two  miles  from  Lochleven,  where  there  is  a 
Roman  camp. 


376  SPEECH  OF  GALGACUS  TO  HIS  ARMY. 

CHAP.  The  Romans  were  elated  at  this  success  and  the  renown  thus  gained 
^J^l^i  by  their  valour. 

The  spirit  of  the  Caledonians  was  unsubdued,  they  armed  their 
young  men,  and  placed  their  wives  and  children  in  secure  towns. 

The  summer  having  commenced,  Galgacus,  the  bravest  and  noblest 
commander  of  the  Caledonians,  encamped  on  the  Grampian  Hills, 
with  thirty  thousand  men  in  arms.  The  youths,  and  such  of  the  elder- 
ly men  as  were  still  hale,  and  had  distinguished  themselves  in  war, 
continued  to  flock  in.    Agricola  arrived  with  his  army. 

On  the  approach  of  the  two  armies,  Galgacus  addressed  his  troops  : 
"  When  I  contemplate,"  said  he,  "  the  necessity  to  which  we  are  re- 
duced, great  is  my  confidence  that  this  union  of  yours,  will  this  day 
prove  the  beginning  of  universal  liberty  to  Britain.  Bondage  is  what 
we  have  never  borne.  Beyond  us  is  no  land,  and  the  Roman  fleet  is 
upon  our  coast.  Arms  are  therefore  the  safest  refuge,  even  for 
cowards.  The  other  Britons  have  had  various  success,  and  their  re- 
maining hope  is  in  us,  the  noblest,  and,  thence,  placed  in  its  innermost 
regions.  This  remote  tract,  unknown  even  to  common  fame,  is  the 
last  that  enjoys  liberty.  Against  the  domineering  plunderers  of  the 
earth  and  sea,  humility  will  prove  no  refuge.  To  commit  spoil  and 
butchery,  they  call  government ;  and  where  they  have  spread  desola- 
tion, they  call  it  peace.  If  our  wives  and  sisters  escape  their  violence, 
they  are  debauched  by  their  pretended  hospitality.  Our  fortunes 
are  exhausted  for  tribute,  our  grain  for  their  provision.  We  are 
doomed,  under  blows,  to  fell  forests  and  to  drain  bogs.  Remember 
that  the  Brigantes  under  a  woman  stormed  the  Roman  entrenchments; 
but  success  degenerated  into  sloth.  There  are  Britons  in  the  enemy's 
army,  with  shame  I  mention  it,  but  they  are  only  held  by  terror,  frail 
bondage  of  endearment ! 

"  Whatever  the  Romans  behold  around  them,  strikes  them  with 


AGRICOLA  ADDRESSES  HIS  TROOPS.  37 

dread:  the  air,  the  sky.  the  woods,  the  sea;  all  is  wild  and  strange,  CHAP, 
so  that  the  Gods  have,  in  some  sort,  delivered  them  inclosed  and  .^^J^ 
bound  into  our  hands.  Be  not  dismayed  with  a  glare  of  gold  and 
silver,  which  can  neither  wound  nor  save.  In  the  host  of  the  enemy 
we  shall  find  that  the  Britons  will  espouse  their  genuine  cause ;  the 
Gauls  will  recollect  their  former  liberty ;  the  Germans  will  abandon 
the  Romans.  The  Romans  have  no  wives  to  hearten  and  urge  them  ; 
no  fathers  and  mothers  to  upbraid  them  for  flying. 

"  The  Roman  colonies  are  full  of  dissensions — here  you  see  a  gene- 
ral, here  an  army.  There  you  may  behold  tributes,  and  the  mines, 
with  all  other  curses,  ever  pursuing  men  enslaved. 

"  Whether  these  things  are  to  be  for  ever  imposed;  or  whether  we, 
forthwith,  avenge  ourselves  for  the  attempt,  this  very  field  must  deter- 
mine. Therefore,  as  you  advance  to  battle,  look  back  on  your  ances- 
tors; look  forward  to  your  posterity!" 

This  speech,  says  Tacitus,  was  received  joyfully,  with  chantings, 
terrible  din,  and  dissonant  shouts,  after  the  manner  of  barbarians. 
Already  their  bands  moved,  and  the  glittering  of  their  arms  appeared ; 
the  most  resolute  were  running  to  their  front,  and  the  army  forming 
in  battle  array :  when  Agricola,  though  seeing  his  soldiers  full  of  ala- 
crity, and  hardly  to  be  restrained  by  express  cautions,  chose  to  address 
them :  "  It  is  now  the  eighth  year,  my  fellow  soldiers,  since  you  have 
been  pursuing  the  conquest  of  Britain.  In  the  many  battles  you  have 
fought,  you  have  had  constant  occasion  either  to  be  exerting  your  bra- 
very against  the  foe,  or  your  patience  against  the  obstacles  of  nature. 
We  now  possess  the  extremity  of  Britain  with  our  camps  and  ar- 
mies. In  the  midst  of  fatigue,  while  passing  morasses,  rivers,  and 
mountains,  I  have  been  wont  to  hear  those  who  are  remarkably  brave 
ask, —  When  shall  we  see  the  enemy,  when  he  led  to  battle?  Already, 
roused  from  their  fastnesses  and  lurking  holes,  they  are  come.  Now, 


c  c  c 


378  IMPORTANT  BATTLE. 

CHAP,    all  is  propitious,  if  you  conquer ;  all  is  disaster,  if  you  be  vanquished. 
XIII. 

^^v-^/  Safety,  there  is  none,  in  turning  our  backs  on  the  foe;  neither 
would  it  be  a  fate  void  of  glory  to  fall  in  this,  the  utmost  verge  of  the 
earth  and  of  nature.  These  are  the  enemy  you  utterly  discomfited 
last  year,  by  the  terror  of  your  shouting ;  when,  by  stealth,  they  at- 
tacked a  single  legion  in  the  dark.  These  are  they,  who,  of  all  the 
Britons,  are  the  most  abandoned  to  fear  and  flight,  and  thence  happen 
to  survive  the  rest;  a  crowd,  fearful  and  effeminate,  and  stand  in  yonder 
field,  benumbed  and  bereft  of  spirit.  Here  close  a  struggle  of  fifty 
years ;  so  that  there  may  not  be  imputed  to  the  army  either  the  procras- 
tination of  the  war,  or  any  cause  for  reviving  it." 

The  centre  of  the  Roman  army  was  composed  of  a  strong  band  of 
eight  thousand  auxiliary  foot.  The  wings  were  environed  with  three 
thousand  horse.  The  legions,  without  advancing,  stood  embattled 
just  without  the  entrenchments:  for  mighty  would  be  the  glory  of  the 
victory,  were  it  gained  without  spilling  Roman  blood. 

The  British  host  was  ranged  upon  the  rising  ground,  both  for  show 
and  terror:  the  first  band  standing  upon  the  plain,  and  the  rest  rising 
successively  behind.  Their  cavalry  and  chariots  of  war  filled  the  in- 
terjacent field  with  great  tumults  and  bounding  to  and  fro. 

Agricola,  fearing  he  might  be  beset  at  once  in  front,  and  on  each 
flank,  extended  his  troops.  Many  advised  him  to  bring  on  the  legions, 
but,  ever  firm,  he  dismounted,  and  advanced  on  foot  before  the 
banners.  In  the  beginning,  the  conflict  was  maintained  at  a  distance. 
The  Britons*,  brave  and  skilful,  armed  with  their  huge  swords  and 
small  bucklers,  quite  eluded  the  missive  weapons,  or  beat  them  off; 
whilst,  of  their  own,  they  poured  a  torrent  upon  the  Romans ;  till  Agri- 
cola  encouraged  three  Batavian  and  two  Tungrian  cohorts  to  close 


*  Tacitus  uses  the  terms  Britons  and  Caledonians  promiscuously. 


DEFEAT  AND  DREADFUL  SLAUGHTER. 


379 


with  the  enemy,  hand  to  hand,  a  familiar  practice  with  those  veterans,  CHAP, 
but  embarrassing  to  the  Caledonians,  who  were  armed  with  little  tar-  v^***^^ 
gets,  and  swords  of  enormous  size,  round  at  the  end,  and  unfit  for  grap- 
pling. The  Batavians  thickened  their  blows,  wounding  the  foe  with 
the  iron  bosses  of  their  bucklers,  and  mangling  their  faces :  they  were 
bearing  down  all  those  who  were  upon  the  plain,  when  the  rest  of  the 
cohorts  joined  them,  and  made  havoc  of  all  they  encountered.  The 
British  cavalry  fled.  The  chariots  of  war  mingled  with  the  foot :  and 
now,  losing  their  riders,  the  horses  ran  wild  and  affrighted,  and  beat 
down  the  troops  of  their  own  side.  While  the  Romans  were  urging 
their  victory,  the  Britons  upon  the  hills,  who  were  yet  fresh,  looked 
with  scorn  on  the  enemy,  and  endeavoured  imperceptibly  to  surround 
their  rear.  Agricola,  who  had  apprehended  this  very  design,  des- 
patched four  squadrons  of  horse  to  engage  them:  they  charged  in 
front,  wheeled  about,  assailed,  and  utterly  routed  the  Britons.  The 
spectacle  was  tragical ;  and  the  present  captives  were  always  slaugh- 
tered as  often  as  others  were  taken. 

Some  of  the  vanquished  fled  in  large  troops,  with  all  their  arms,  be- 
fore a  small  force :  others,  unarmed,  rushed  desperately  into  peril  and 
instant  death.  Some  of  the  conquered  exerted  notable  wrath  and  bra- 
very. When  near  the  woods,  they  joined,  and  circumvented  the  fore- 
most pursuers,  who  had  rashly  ventured  too  far.  Agricola,  fearing 
some  disaster  from  this  want  of  caution,  kept  his  ranks  close,  and  con- 
tinued the  pursuit,  till  a  satiety  of  slaughter,  and  night,  ended  the  battle. 

Of  the  Britons,  ten  thousand  were  slain.  There  fell  of  the  Romans 
three  hundred  and  forty;  amongst  these  was  Aulus  Atticus,  command- 
er of  a  cohort,  who,  by  his  own  youthful  heat,  and  a  fiery  horse,  was 
hurried  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy*. 


This  great  battle,  according  to  Mr.  Gordon,  was  fought  in  Strathern,  half  a 
CCC2 


380  ROMAN  FLEET  SAILS  ROUND  THE  ISLAND. 

It  was  a  night  of  great  joy  to  the  conquerors,  both  from  the  victory 
and.  the  spoil.  The  Britons  wandered  in  despair.  Sometimes,  on  be-* 
holding  their  dearest  pledges  of  nature,  their  spirits  became  utterly 
sunk  and  dejected:  some  by  the  same  sight  were  roused  into  resolu-1 
tion  and  fury.  It  is  certain,  that  some  murdered  their  wives  and 
children,  as  an  act  of  compassion  and  tenderness. 

The  next  day  produced  profound  silence,  solitary  hills,  thick  smoke 
arising  from  the  houses  on  fire,  and  not  a  living  soul  to  be  found  by  the 
scouts. 

The  summer  being  nearly  spent,  Agricola  conducted  his  army  to  the 
borders  of  the  Horestians,  where  he  received  hostages,  and  ordered 
the  admiral  of  the  fleet  to  sail  round  Britain.  Quitting  the  Frith  of 
Tay,  the  fleet  passed  round  the  north  of  the  island,  and,  with  great 
fame,  arrived  at  the  port  of  Sandwich,  whence  they  had  originally  de- 
parted. 

A.D.  86.  Titus  had  admired  and  rewarded  Agricola,  but  his  brother,  Do- 
mitian,  received  the  news  of  this  great  victory  with  feigned  joy*: 
but  it  was  dreadful  above  all  things  to  him,  that  the  name  of  a  private 

A.D.  87.  man  should  be  exalted  above  that  of  the  Emperor.  Agricola  was  re- 
called. Domitian,  conscious  of  the  derision  inevitable  on  account  of 
his  mock  triumph  over  the  Germans,  for  which  he  had  purchased  a 
number  of  slaves,  and  dressed  them  to  resemble  captives,  was  stung 
at  the  thoughts  of  the  unfavorable  comparison ;  and,  notwithstanding 
the  modesty  and  prudence  of  Agricola  after  he  returned  to  Italy* 


mile  from  the  Kirk  of  Comerie,  where  there  is  a  remarkable  encampment. — 
Rapin. 

*  In  Domitian's  reign,  the  Britons  were  not  inferior,  in  way  of  life  and  improve- 
ment, to  the  other  provinces. —Camden,  Vol.  I.  p.  xlvii.  Also  Juvenal,  Sato 
XV.  Ill,  says— 

"  And  learned  Gaul  the  British  lawyers  forms." 


ADRIAN  ARRIVES  IN  BRITAIN.  381 

where  he  lived  in  retirement,  there  is  little  doubt  of  the  jealous  and  CHAP. 

XIII. 

cruel  tyrant  having  poisoned  him*  (A.  D.  93,  aged  56).  <**-^-*^> 

Britain,  south  of  Agricola's  forts,  in  which  he  placed  strong  garri- 
sons, was  now  become  a  Roman  province ;  and  the  natives,  adopting 
the  Roman  customs  and  manners,  made  but  faint  attempts  to  recover 
their  liberty.  Nothing  occurred,  that  has  been  noticed  by  historians, 
except  that  in  Trajan's  reign  Britain  revolted  and  was  subdued,  till  the 
reign  of  Adrian,  when  the  northern  people  demolished  some  of  Agri- 
cola's  fortresses,  and  made  irruptions  into  the  Roman  province.  Ju- 
lius Severus,  a  general  of  renown,  governed  the  island ;  but  having  been 
sent  to  suppress  the  Jews,  who  were  in  tumult,  Adrian  himself  ar- 
rived in  Britain.  Hearing,  at  York,  from  some  old  soldiers  who  had  A.  D.  124, 
accompanied  Agricola  in  his  expedition,  what  kind  of  country  he  had 
to  invade,  he  resolved  on  abandoning  the  territory  north  of  the  Tyne 
and  Solway  Frithf .  He  dug  a  deep  ditch,  and  made  a  lofty  and  spacious 
rampart  from  sea  to  sea,  above  sixty  miles  in  length,  and  garrisoned 
eighteen  thousand  Roman  troops  in  forts  and  stations,  at  proper 
distances.    While  in  Britain,  Adrian  received  news  of  the  death  of 

*  Domitian  put  to  death  Sallustius  Lucullus,  Lieutenant  of  Britain,  for  suffering 
some  lances  of  a  new  invention  to  be  called  Lucullean.  —  Suetonius,  Ch.  X. 

t  "  Adrian,  careless  of  repose,  marched,  bare-headed,  over  the  sultry  plains  of 
Upper  Egypt,  and  the  snows  of  Caledonia."— Gibbon,  Ch.  I.  It  does  not,  how- 
ever, appear,  that  he  invaded  Caledonia,  while  he  was  in  Britain:  Florus  writes.  

"  Csesar,  I  envy  not  thy  trade, 
Among  the  Britons  to  parade, 
And  midst  the  Scottish  frosts  be  laid6" 

To  which  Adrian  replies, 

"  Florus,  I  envy  not  thy  sphere, 
Taverns  to  haunt  in  quest  of  cheer; 
To  lounge  in  every  eat  ng-house, 
And  there  in  brimmers  to  carouse." 


3S2  EIGHT  THOUSAND  SCYTHIANS  SENT  TO  BRITAIN. 

CHAP.    Plotina,  the  widow  of  Trajan,  to  whom  he  chiefly  owed  his  elevation. 

v^-^-O  His  grief  was  so  immoderate,  as  to  be  attributed  to  love  for  that  em- 
press *.  Adrian  returned  to  Rome,  and  was  honoured  with  medals — To 
the  Restorer  of  Britain :  he  left  Priscus  Licinius  as  governor. 

In  the  reign  of  Antoninus  Pius,  on  the  removal  of  some  of  the 
Roman  troops,  Adrian's  rampart  was  in  several  places  destroyed,  and 
the  country  ravaged  by  the  Caledonians.  Lollius  Urbicus  was  sent  to 
Britain  as  governor.    He  subdued  the  revolted  Brigantes,  and  con- 

A.D.  144.  fined  the  northern  tribes  again  within  the  line,  where  Agricola's  forts 
had  been,  by  a  broad  and  deep  ditch,  and  a  rampart  upon  a  foundation 
of  stone,  and  faced  with  stone,  defended  by  eighteen  garrisons,  at  two 
miles'  distance  from  each  other,  with  watch  towers  between  each. 
It  was  called  Antoninus's  wall.  The  Roman  navy  in  Britain  was  now 
commanded  by  Seius  Saturninus. 

A.D.  162.      Marcus  Aurelius  sent  Calphurnius  Agricola,  as  governor,  to  Britain. 

He  checked  the  insolence  of  the  Caledonians,  and  strengthened  the  Ro- 
man power.  In  this  reign,  Lucius,  a  British  king,  is  said  to  have  em- 
braced the  Christian  religion.  At  the  termination  of  the  Marcomanic 
war/the  Emperor  sent  eight  thousand  Scythians  (Jazyges)  into  Britain  f. 

In  the  reign  of  Commodus,  there  were  great  disturbances  in  the  island. 
The  Romans  had  neglected  to  keep  up  the  discipline  of  their  army;  and 
a  Roman  general,  with  his  troops,  had  been  defeated,  and  cut  to  pieces. 
The  Emperor  was  alarmed  at  this,  and  sent  over  Ulpius  Marcellus  %, 
a  general  of  high  reputation,  who  restored  peace  and  discipline:  for 
which  he  was  rewarded  with  hatred  and  envy. 

*  Life  of  Sabina,  wife  of  Adrian,  by  De  Serviez. 
f  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Sarmatia." 

%  While  this  governor  was  in  Britain,  in  order  to  keep  himself  vigilant  by  ab- 
stemiousness, he  had  his  bread  from  Rome,  and  ate  it  stale,  that  he  might  not  be 
induced  to  any  excess  by  fresh  bread. — Camden. 


PERTINAX  IS  DESPERATELY  WOUNDED.  383 

On  the  recal  of  Marcellus,  the  rapacious  and  ambitious  Perennis,  CHAP. 

XIII. 

the  Emperor's  favourite,  removed  the  veteran  officers  in  Britain,  to  v«*~y-"W 
replace  them  with  others  of  his  own  nomination.  A  deputation  of 
fifteen  hundred  troops  marched  to  Rome,  demanded  justice,  and  in-  A.D.  186. 
formed  the  Emperor  of  the  intrigues  that  were  hatching  against  him. 
Commodus,  who  was  already  jealous  of  Perennis,  delivered  him  up  at 
once  to  the  mutineers,  who  executed  him  instantly :  his  wife,  his  sis- 
ter, and  his  two  children,  shared  his  fate :  his  son,  who  commanded  the 
troops  in  Illyria,  was  entrapped  by  a  friendly  letter  from  Commodus, 
to  proceed  to  Rome ;  but  as  soon  as  he  set  his  foot  in  Italy,  he  also 
was  despatched,  still  being  ignorant  of  his  father's  fate  *. 

Pertinax  (afterwards  Emperor)  was  deputed  to  Britain  to  restore 
order;  but  commencing  with  too  much  severity  in  military  disci- 
pline, the  ninth  legion  mutinied :  and  being  desirous  to  have  a  new  Em- 
peror, they  offered  that  dignity  to  Pertinax,  who,  in  one  of  these  revolts, 
was  wounded  and  left  for  dead  among  the  slain :  he  however  recovered,  A.D.  189. 
and  subdued  all  obstacles;  but  being  accused  of  having  contributed  to 
the  death  of  Arrius  Antoninus,  and  not  being  beloved  by  the  soldiers, 
he  requested  his  recal. 

Clodius  Albinus,  a  general  of  great  reputation,  was  now  selected 
by  Commodus  for  the  important  command  of  Britain;  and  the  Em- 
peror wrote  him  a  letter,  fearing  the  revolt  of  Severus  and  Nonius 
Murcus,  to  desire  him,  if  he  found  the  necessity,  to  assume  the  title 
and  dignity  of  Caesar,  with  permission,  should  he  do  so,  to  make  use  of 
the  requisite  sums  of  money  to  distribute  among  the  soldiers.  But 
Albinus,  fearing  some  tragical  event  might  befal  Commodus,  and  cause 
his  own  ruin,  did  not  avail  himself  of  this  offer. 

On  Pertinax  succeeding  to  the  empire,  (A.  D.  192),  he  confirmed 


Herodian. 


384 


CLODIUS  ALBINUS  PROCLAIMED  EMPEROR. 


CHAP.    Clodius  Albinus  governor  of  Britain:  and  he  was  continued  in  that 
XIII. 

v-^v-^*  post  the  next  year  by  the  new  Emperor,  Didius  Julianus.  He  gain- 
ed the  affection  of  the  soldiers  to  so  great  a  degree,  that,  on  the  exe- 
cution of  Didius,  after  Severus  arrived  in  Italy  *,  they  proclaimed  him 
Emperor.    He  contested  the  throne  with  Septimius  Severus,  but  was 

A.'D.  197.  defeated  near  Lyons  in  a  great  battle,  immediately  after  which  Albinus 
destroyed  himself. 


Severus  divided  Britain  into  two  governments:  the  northern  half 
was  governed  by  Virius  Lupusf:  Dio  relates  that  he  purchased 
peace  of  the  Caledonians.  After  a  quiet  period  of  several  years,  and 
great  relaxation  and  negligence  among  the  Roman  troops,  the  Cale- 
donians began  to  be  so  troublesome,  that  Severus  himself,  though 
afflicted  with  the  gout,  and  above  sixty  years  old,  resolved  in  person 
to  conquer  the  northern  part  of  the  island.  He  set  out  for  Britain 
(A.  D.  208),  at  the  head  of  a  numerous  army,  and  accompanied  by 
the  Empress  Julia  Domna  with  her  sister  Mesa,  and  his  sons  Cara- 
calla  and  Geta,  both  of  whom  had  been  raised  to  the  rank  of  Augus- 
tus: and  Rome,  for  the  first  time,  had  three  Emperors  J.  The  Cale- 
donians sent  ambassadors  to  treat  on  honourable  terms.  Severus  re- 
quired them  to  submit  to  his  mercy;  which  they  refused.  The  Em- 
peror then  leaving  Geta  in  the  command  at  London,  attended  by  his 
whole  court,  and  his  formidable  army,  marched  to  the  north  with  his 
eldest  son  Caracalla. 

*  When  Didius  had  intelligence  of  the  march  of  Severus,  nothing  was  to  be 
seen  at  Rome  but  soldiers,  elephants,  and  horses,  training  for  war. — Dion  Cassius. 

f  An  altar  dedicated  to  the  goddess  Fortune,  inscribed  to  Virius  Lupus,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  repairing  a  bath  for  the  Thracian  cohorts  in  garrison  with  the 
Romans  at  Levatrise,  (Bowes,  Richmondshire),  has  been  dug  up  at  that  place. 

%  Gibbon,  Ch.  VI.  Caracalla  was  elevated  in  the  year  198;  Geta  at  about  the 
year  of  this  expedition.    Some  writers  date  the  arrival  in  Britain  in  207. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  MEDALS. 


YORK,  THE  HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ROMAN 
EMPIRE* 

Eboracum  was  the  capital  of  the  northern  division.  Severus,  with 
his  large  army,  and  his  whole  court,  arrived  at  the  capital.    "  It  was 


*  DESCRIPTION  OF  PLATE  II. 

No  (ROMANS  WHO  WERE  IN  BRITAIN.) 

13  Julius  CcBsar. — Reverse,  Augustus.    (Found  at  Dunstable). 

14  Claudius. — A  colonial  medal.    (Found  at  Littleborough,  Nottinghamshire). 

15  Vespasian  and  Titus. — Haym.  Del  Tesoro  Britannico,  Vol.  II.  Plate  V.  (In 

the  possession  of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire). 

16  Hadrian. — (Found  at  Littleborough). 

17  Pertinax.— Haym.  Vol.  I.  p.  258.    (Sir  Robert  Abdy). 

18  Clodius  Albinus. — Elected  Emperor  by  the  troops  in  Britain.    (Found  at 

Dunstable). 

19  Severus. — He  died  at  York.    (Found  in  Leicestershire). 

20  Caracalla.— Haym.  Vol.  II.  Plate  XV.   (Duke  of  Devonshire). 

21  Geta. — (Found  in  Leicestershire). 

22  Julia  Domna. — Reverse,  Venus  Lucina.    Haym.  Vol.  II.  Plate  XIV. — Wife 

of  Severus  and  mother  of  Caracalla  and  Geta.  Supposed  to  have  been 
coined  in  Lydia.    (Duke  of  Devonshire). 

23  Julia  Mesa. — Reverse,  Jupiter  and  Juno,  deities  of  the  Amastrians,  crowned 

with  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac  Sister  of  Julia  Domna;  grandmother  of 

Heliogabalus  and  Alexander  Severus.  Haym.  Vol.  II.  Plate  XVIII. 
(Duke  of  Devonshire). 

24  Constanlius,  (Chlorus). — He  died  at  York.    (Found  in  Rutlandshire).  For 

the  head  of  his  empress,  Helena,  see  Plate  III.  No.  39. 

25  Constantine,  (The  Great). — He  was  proclaimed  at  York.    (Found  at  Ches- 

terton in  Warwickshire). 

26  Constantine,  (The  Younger). — Reverse,  PLON.  coined  at  London  He  built 

a  wall  round  London,  or  finished  the  one  said  to  have  been  built  by  his 
father  or  Helena.    (Found  in  Rutlandshire). 

27  Theodosius. — He  served  in  Britain  under  his  father,  and  with  his  future  rival, 

Maximus.    (Found  at  Dunstable). 

DDD 


385 


386 


GRANDEUR  OF  YORK.— A  TRIUMPH. 


CHAP,    at  this  period  that  York  shone  in  full  lustre.    Britannici  orbis  Roma 
XIII.  r 

-—v-"*^  Altera,  Palatium  Cur  ice,  et  Prcetorium  Ccesaris,  are  titles  it  might 
justly  lay  claim  to.  The  prodigious  concourse  of  tributary  kings, 
foreign  ambassadors  and  others,  which  crowded  the  courts  of  the 
sovereigns  of  the  world,  when  the  Roman  empire  was  in  its  prime, 
must  have  produced  the  height  of  sublunary  grandeur :  and  this,  with- 
out mentioning  the  Emperor's  own  magnificence,  his  numerous  re- 
tinue, the  noblemen  of  Rome,  or  the  officers  of  the  army,  which  must 
all,  necessarily,  attend  him.  In  these  days,  and  before,  no  doubt,  the 
temple  of  Bellona  stood  here.  Whatever  was  done  at  Rome,  we  may 
presume  was  executed  at  York.  The  palace  at  York  must  have  been 
very  magnificent.  (The  one  built  by  this  Emperor  was  noble  and  ex- 
tensive). It  was  here  that  Severus  triumphed  for  one  of  the  greatest 
conquests  (over  the  Parthians  and  Arabians),  Rome  ever  gained,  and 
which,  with  the  building  of  the  wall,  Spartian  expressly  calls  the 
greatest  glories  of  his  reign  *." 

Severus,  from  his  infirmities,  and  then  having  the  gout,  was  carried 
all  over  the  island  in  a  litter  f;  he,  with  infinite  toil,  penetrated  to 
the  utmost  bounds  of  the  north,  cutting  down  forests,  and  draining 
morasses,  or  filling  them  with  bavins.  All  this  while  no  enemy's 
soldiers  appeared :  they  hung  unseen  on  the  rear  and  flanks  of  the 
Romans,  and  harassed  them  perpetually. 

This  campaign,  from  the  extreme  severity  of  the  labour,  and  ex- 

*  Drake's  York,  p.  10  to  14.  There  had  also  been  a  triumph  at  Rome  for  the 
eastern  victories,  in  the  tenth  year  of  Severus's  reign,  but  he,  having  the  gout, 
would  not  permit  it  in  his  own  name,  being  too  ill  to  be  present  at  it;  Caracalla 
therefore  enjoyed  the  honor,  for  his  success  against  the  Jews ;  and  this  triumph,  at 
York,  was  to  celebrate  the  conquests  of  Severus.  He  received  from  the  senate  the 
title  of  the  conqueror  of  the  Britons,  while  he  was  at  York.  See  Spartian,  and  Ber- 
nard, Vol.  I.  p.  246;  also  Medal,  Plate  I.  A.  12. 

f  Dion  Cassius,  "Severus." 


CALEDONIA  INVADED. — 50,000  MEN  LOST.  387 

posure  to  cold  in  the  mountains  and  bogs,  is  said  to  have  cost  the  CHAP. 
Romans  fifty  thousand  men  *.    The  Caledonians,  however,  at  length  v^-v-L^ 
yielded. 

The  Emperor,  finding  that  he  could  not  keep  the  country  in  sub- 
jection without  a  considerable  army  on  the  spot;  resolved  to  depend 
on  the  project  of  Adrian,  by  confining  the  Caledonians  within  a  more 
secure  barrier.  This  great  undertaking  was  superintended  by  Cara- 
calla.  The  position  was  a  few  paces  north  of  Adrian's  rampart;  and 
the  length,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Tyne  to  Boulness  on  the  Solway 
Frith,  sixty-eight  English  miles.  To  the  north  of  the  wall  was  a 
broad  and  deep  ditch :  the  wall  itself,  on  the  brink  of  the  ditch,  was 
built  of  solid  stone,  strongly  cemented  with  the  best  mortar.  The 
height  was  twelve  feet,  besides  the  parapet ;  and  its  breadth  eight 
feet. 

There  were  eighteen  stations  fortified  with  deep  ditches  and  strong 
walls,  the  great  wall  itself  forming  the  north  wall  of  each  station. 
The  smallest  station  contained  a  cohort,  or  six  hundred  men.  With- 
out the  walls  of  each  station,  was  a  town  inhabited  by  labourers,  both 
Romans  and  Britons,  who  chose  to  dwell  there,  under  the  protection 
of  these  fortresses. 

There  were  between  the  stations  eighty-one  castella,  or  castles,  ex- 
act squares  of  sixty-six  feet  every  way;  fortified  on  each  side  with 
thick  and  lofty  walls ;  in  which  guards  were  constantly  kept.  The 
towers,  or  turrets,  formed  each  a  square  of  twelve  feet  standing  out 
of  the  wall  on  its  south  side. 

The  troops  allotted  to  guard  the  wall,  consisted  of  twelve  cohorts 
of  foot,  one  cohort  of  mariners  in  the  station  at  Boulness,  one  detach- 

*  Tt  is  very  probable  that  great  numbers  of  cattle,  men,  and  other  vestiges  of 
this  invasion  are  still  in  the  marshes  of  Scotland:  noiv  perhaps  dried  up. 

DDD  2 


388 


MAGNIFICENT  WALL. 


CHAP,    ment  of  Moors  *,  probably  equal  to  a  cohort,  and  four  alse,  or  wings, 
J4rv*-+J  of  horse,  at  the  lowest  computation,  of  four  hundred  each.  In  all,  ten 
thousand. 

For  the  convenience  of  marching  from  one  part  of  the  wall  to 
another,  there  were  annexed  to  it  two  military  ways,  paved  with 
square  stones,  in  the  most  solid  and  beautiful  manner;  one  larger  and 
one  smaller,  from  castle  to  castle,  &c.  to  relieve  guards  and  sentinels. 
(This  wall  proved  an  impenetrable  barrier  to  the  Roman  territories 
for  near  two  hundred  years.  In  subsequent  times,  it  was  the  common 
quarry,  for  more  than  a  thousand  years,  for  building  all  the  towns  and 
villages  around  f ).  The  restless  Caledonians,  on  the  retiring  of  the 
Roman  legions,  resuming  hostilities,  Severus  was  provoked  to  send 
another  army  into  their  country,  under  the  command  of  Caracalla, 
with  the  most  bloody  orders:  not  to  subdue,  but  to  exterminate  them; 
even  to  the  child  unborn.  They  were  saved  by  the  Emperor's  death 
at  York,  A.  D.  211,  aged  66.  His  corpse  was  burnt  with  great  pomp 
at  a  place  without  the  walls  of  York  J. 

*  The  Emperor  Severus  was  an  African,  born  at  Leptis  (Napoli  di  Barbaria,  in 
the  goverment  of  Tripoli).  Bernard,  Vol.  T.  p.  227. 

f  See  Henry,  Hist.  Eng.  II.  477.  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Wall."  "  When  Mr.  Roger 
Gale  and  1  rode  the  whole  length  ofSeverus's  Wall,  in  August,  1725,  near  House- 
steeds,  (Borcovius),  fragments  of  pillars  lay  scattered  over  the  whole  place ;  whence 
we  conclude,  here  was  a  temple.  By  a  large  part  of  a  capital  that  remained,  we 
concluded  that  it  was  of  the  Doric  order,  suitable  to  a  military  station.  In  the 
meadow  there  was  such  a  scene  of  Romano  British  Antiquities  as  we  had  never 
beheld;  we  might  have  loaded  waggons  with  many  most  curious  and  beautiful 
large  altars.  There  were  scores  of  fine  basso  relievos  nearly  as  big  as  the  life,  one 
of  them  an  admirable  image  of  victory;  and  three  female  figures  sitting  together, 
with  globes  in  their  hands.  There  was  a  wall,  composed  of  dry  Roman  stones, 
and  fragments  of  carved  work,  as  a  sorry  fence  to  a  pasture.  Who  can  express 
the  indignation  we  conceived  at  the  miserable  havoc  of  these  most  valuable  monu- 
ments?" Stukeley,  Medallic  History  of  Carausius,  Vol.  II.  p.  151. 

%  This  place  is  said  still  to  bear  the  name  of  Sever's-hoe.    At  funerals,  it  was 


GAMES  OF  THE  CIRCUS.— OMENS. 


389 


The  signs  forerunning  the  death  of  Severus,  were  these:    He  CHAP. 
&  8  XIII. 

dreamed  that  he  was  carried  up  to  Heaven  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  four  w»-v-*- 

eagles,  and  was  called  by  Jupiter,  and  placed  among  the  Antoninuses. 
One  day,  while  the  games  of  the  circus  were  celebrating,  as  there  were 
three  figures  of  Victory,  with  palms  in  their  hands,  placed,  according 
to  custom,  upon  the  platform  where  the  Emperor's  throne  is ;  that  in 
the  middle,  bearing  a  globe,  on  which  was  inscribed  the  name  of  Seve- 
rus, was  blown  down  upon  the  ground  by  a  gust  of  wind  *.  The  one 
with  the  name  of  Geta  fell,  and  was  broken  to  pieces:  but  that  which 
was  inscribed  with  the  name  of  Bassianus  (Caracalla)  stood,  but  lost 
the  palm  branch  by  the  wind. 

After  he  had  finished  his  wall,  and  was  returning  to  the  next  garri- 
son victorious,  having  hereby  assured  the  peace  of  Britain  for  ever ; 
while  he  was  meditating  about  what  sort  of  omen  he  should  meet  with 
upon  it,  a  black  Moor,  one  of  his  soldiers,  and  a  famous  droll,  presents 
himself  before  him,  with  a  crown  in  his  hand  made  of  cypress.  Seve- 
rus in  anger  commanded  him  immediately  to  retire  out  of  his  sight, 
being  sensibly  touched  with  the  double  ill  omen  of  his  colour,  and  the 
tree  of  which  his  crown  was  composed.  In  the  mean  time,  said  the 
man,  "  your  Majesty  hath  been  all  things,  and  conquered  all  things, 
now  be  a  God." 

Having  afterwards  returned  to  York,  and  going  to  discharge  his  de- 
votion, the  Emperor  was  conducted,  by  a  mistake  of  an  augur,  into  a 
Temple  of  Bellona;  and  the  beasts  which  were  presented  to  him  to 
sacrifice  were  black :  but  he,  refusing  to  sacrifice  in  that  colour,  retir- 

customary  to  kill  oxen,  &c,  and  to  throw  them  upon  the  pile.    Severus  struck 
money  at  York,  and  stiled  himself  Britannicus.    He  also  issued  a  decree  regard- 
ing slaves,  and  still  in  the  Roman  Code,  dated  Eboracum,  the  third  of  the  nones  of 
May,  in  the  consulate  of  Faustinas  and  Rufus.  (A.  D.  209). 
*  Spartian.    See  Bernard,  Vol.  I.  p.  253. 


390  MONSTROUS  CONDUCT  OF  CARACALLA. 

ed  to  the  palace,  and  the  same  black  victims  being  left  neglected  by 
the  priests,  went  after  him  as  far  as  to  the  gates  of  the  palace*." 

Severus  had  been  near  four  years  in  Britain  f,  where  he  got  a  prodi- 
gious mass  of  wealth  J.  The  cruel  temper  of  Caracalla,  whose  chief 
glory  was  in  killing  wild  beasts,  had  clouded  all  the  Emperor's  latter 
years.  The  ambition  of  this  monster  had  prompted  him  to  endeavour 
openly  to  slay,  or  privately  to  poison  his  father. 

Caracalla  had  produced  discontent  among  the  troops,  and  one  of  his 
party  had  murmured  that  their  victorious  career  was  retarded  by  a  gouty 
old  man.  The  empress  was  suspected  of  being  an  accomplice  in  this 
conspiracy.  Severus  caused  himself  to  be  carried  to  the  tribunal ;  and, 
in  the  midst  of  the  army,  condemned  some  of  Caracalla's  party  to 
death.  The  criminals,  falling  prostrate,  implored  the  Emperor's  mer- 
cy: for  some  time  Severus  was  inflexible;  but,  at  length,  pardon- 
ing them,  he  placed  his  hand  upon  his  head :  "  Now,"  said  he,  "  are  you 
satisfied  that  it  is  the  head  that  rules,  and  not  the  feet  ? "  Caracalla,  in- 
stead of  being  checked  by  this,  became  more  furious.  Severus  and  he 
being  sometime  afterwards  on  horseback,  holding  a  conference  with  the 
Caledonians,  in  presence  of  both  armies,  Caracalla  drew  his  sword 
with  intention  to  plunge  it  through  his  father's  back.  Those  who 
were  near,  suddenly  shrieked,  which  caused  the  Emperor  to  turn  his 
head,  when  he  was  shocked  by  the  sight  of  the  naked  sword.  The 
unhappy  parent  had  sufficient  command  of  himself  not  to  say  a  single 
word.    When  he  arrived  at  his  tent,  he  threw  himself  upon  his  bed, 


*  Spartian.  Aug-ustan  Hist.  The  person  of  Severus  is  described  by  Spar- 
tian  as  handsome  and  stout;  he  wore  a  long  beard,  and  his  hair  curled  naturally; 
he  had  an  awful  countenance,  and  a  sweet  voice,  but  with  something  of  the  African 
tone.  He  ate  little,  often  quite  abstained  from  flesh,  and  was  partial  to  the  peas, 
beans,  and  pulse  of  his  native  country.    He  sometimes  drank  pretty  freely. 

t  Henry,  Vol.  II.  $  Dion  Cassius,  "  Severus." 


THE  EMPRESS  JULIA  DOMNA.  391 
and  sent  for  Caracalla.    In  the  presence  of  Papinius,  the  captain  of  CHAP. 

Xlll. 

the  guards,  and  Castor,  a  freed  man,  the  Emperor  reproached  his  son  <^^>^ 
with  great  coolness.    "  If  you  want  to  kill  me,"  said  he,  "  take  this 
sword  and  execute  your  desire  here,  and  not  in  the  presence  of  two 
armies :  or  if  shame  withholds  your  hand,  request  Papinius  to  rid  you 
of  me." 

The  Roman  empire  was  now  in  the  hands  of  Caracalla  and  Geta, 
with  equal  power :  and  the  senate  acknowledged  them  both,  as  lawful 
and  independent  Emperors,  They  left  Britain  and  the  Caledonians 
in  peace.  On  their  arrival  at  Rome,  a  negotiation  was  attempted  to 
divide  the  Empire  into  East  and  West :  but  it  could  not  be  brought 
about.  On  the  27th  of  February,  A.  D.  21*2,  Caracalla,  assisted  by 
other  assassins,  murdered  his  brother  Geta,  while  his  mother,  the  Em- 
press Julia  Domna,  was  endeavouring  to  protect  him  in  her  arms :  she  a.  D.  192. 
herself  being  wounded  in  the  hand,  and  covered  with  the  blood  of  the 
unfortunate  Geta. 

Julia,  the  wife  of  Severus,  was  one  of  the  most  accomplished,  beauti- 
ful, dissolute,  and  unfortunate  of  the  Roman  empresses.  Julia  Mesa, 
her  sister,  was  a  lady  of  great  merit,  and  virtuous  beyond  the  reach  of 
malice ;  she  was  prudent  and  politic ;  it  was  principally  by  her  man- 
agement that  her  grandsons,  Heliogabalus,  and  Alexander  Severus, 
were  elevated  to  the  throne  of  the  Empire.  These  sisters  were  born 
at  Emessa  in  Phoenicia,  and  were  daughters  of  Bassius,  Priest  of  the 
Sun.  Julia  Domna  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  when  she  married 
Severus;  and  when  he  became  Emperor  the  two  sisters  generally  ac- 
companied him  in  his  expeditions,  Julia  Mesa  having  become  a  wi- 
dow. They  were  both  in  Britain  during  the  whole  time  of  the  resi- 
dence of  the  three  Emperors. 

J ulia  Domna  is  described  as  extremely  beautiful ,  and  as  having  a 
just  way  of  thinking,  a  peculiar  grace  in  her  speech,  and  an  elegant 


392  REPARTEE  OF  A  CALEDONIAN  LADY. 

CHAP,  manner  of  writing :  she  had  studied  geometry,  and  other  sciences,  be- 
v^e-vy—w  sides  the  vain  art  of  judicial  astrology;  and  was  the  patroness  of  every 
art,  and  the  friend  of  every  man  of  genius.  She  was  prodigiously 
fond  of  sports  and  shows,  where  she  always  appeared  full  of  life  and 
high  spirits,  and  where  her  beauty,  which  remained  to  an  advanced 
age,  could  not  fail  to  procure  her  a  crowd  of  admirers.  Such  was  her 
ascendency  over  Severus,  notwithstanding  her  notoriously  flagitious 
conduct,  that  she  could  calm  him  in  the  midst  of  his  fury,  and  manage 
him  as  she  thought  proper. 

Julia  accompanied  Severus  on  his  expedition  in  Caledonia,  and  re- 
ceived from  the  inhabitants,  with  whom  she  had  any  intercourse,  all 
the  honours  it  was  in  their  power  to  pay  to  her  exalted  rank.  Not 
finding  the  politeness  of  the  Roman  ladies  in  the  manners  of  the  na- 
tives of  Caledonia,  the  Empress  frequently  rallied  them  with  much  vi- 
vacity, and  in  a  very  provoking  stile;  no  one  daring  to  offend  the 
dignity  of  the  Empress  by  a  repartee.  It  happened,  however,  that  a 
Caledonian  of  distinction,  named  Argentocox,  had  a  wife*  who  was 
very  witty  and  spirited  on  such  occasions.  One  day,  when  she  went 
to  pay  her  respects  to  the  Empress,  the  conversation  taking  a  turn  on 
the  customs  and  manners  of  the  country,  Julia  was  rather  satirical 
on  the  galantries  of  the  Caledonian  ladies,  the  little  fidelity  they  had  to 
their  husbands,  and  the  publicity  of  their  intrigues :  on  which  the 
other  replied  with  great  resolution,  "  It  is  true,  that  we  Caledonians 
do  not  manage  so  cunningly  as  the  Roman  ladies,  we  have  not  their 
policy  to  impose  on  our  husbands  by  intrigues  carried  on  under  an 
appearance  of  modesty,  with  the  most  abject  persons;  we  have  the 
sincerity  without  disguise  to  enjoy  the  society  of  the  bravest  men  in 


*  The  wife's  name  (Dion,  Vol.  II.  p.  307,)  was  Argetoxa. 


MISERABLE  DEATH  OF  THE  EMPRESS  JULIA. 


393 


the  world."    The  empress,  at  this  reply,  felt  much  confused,  and  never  CHAP. 

XIII. 

renewed  the  subject.  v^-v-w 
After  the  death  of  Severus,  his  body  was  burnt,  with  the  usual  cere-  A.D.  211. 
monies,  and  the  ashes  were  deposited  in  a  costly  urn,  which  J ulia  had 
carried  with  her  to  Rome. 

When  Caracalla  was  assassinated  in  Mesopotamia,  Julia,  her  nieces 
Soemia  and  Mamea,  and  their  mother  Mesa,  were  all  at  Antioch.  On 
the  news  reaching  the  unfortunate  empress,  she  gave  herself  up  to 
grief,  inflicted  blows  on  herself,  although  she  was  suffering  from  a 
cancer,  which  she  much  inflamed;  and  refused  all  nourishment.  A 
letter  from  Macrinus,  now  Emperor,  full  of  expressions  of  respect  and 
esteem,  and  continuing  all  the  prerogatives  and  honours  she  had  ever 
enjoyed,  mitigated  her  afflictions  and  sorrows.  But  Macrinus,  dread- 
ing her  influence  and  abilities,  changed  his  conduct,  and  commanded 
her  to  quit  Antioch.  J  ulia,  finding  no  remedy  for  her  misfortunes, 
and  tortured  by  her  cruel  disease,  abstained  from  food,  and  died  in 
the  year  217,  at  the  age  of  about  sixty-three,  after  having  enjoyed 
the  highest  dignities  attainable,  and  being  afflicted  with  the  most 
dreadful  mental  and  bodily  anguish  that  a  human  being  can  sup- 
port *. 

Britain,  enjoying  uninterrupted  tranquillity,  is  scarcely  noticed  by 
any  historian  for  about  seventy-Jive  years. 

A  governor  who  had  been  sent  to  Britain  by  the  Emperor  Probus 
assumed  the  Imperial  purple,  but  was  shortly  afterwards  put  to  death 
by  Victorinus,  a  Moor,  one  of  Probus's  ministers,  by  whom  the  gover- 


*  Life  of  Julia  Domna,  by  De  Serviez.  Augustan  History,  "  Severus."  Gib- 
bon, Ch.  VI.  Spartian  reports,  that  Julia  married  her  son  Caracalla,  which  other 
authors  deny ;  nor  is  it  in  the  least  probable:  she  was  fifty-seven  years  of  age, 
when  Severus  died.    He  also  asserts  that  Caracalla  was  her  step-son. 


E  E  E 


q  t8ntaiaoA 


394  BONOSUS,  A  BRITON,  ASSUMES  THE  PURPLE. 

CvT^rP'    nor  nac*  Deen  promoted*.  Bonosus,  another  of  the  revolters  against  Pro- 
A.  111. 

^*~*~y~^  bus,  was  a  Briton  by  birth.  His  father  was  a  Spaniard,  and  either  a 
professor  of  rhetoric  or  a  grammarian,  and  died  while  Bonosus  was 
young:  his  mother  was  a  Gaulese,  and  a  woman  of  wit.  Bonosus  ser- 
ved first  in  the  infantry,  then  in  the  cavalry ;  and  when  he  became 
a  general,  he  had  charge  of  the  frontier  of  Rhsetia.  No  man  ever 
drank  like  him.  The  Emperor  Aurelian  esteemed  him  for  his  mili- 
tary talents,  and,  as  he  could  drink  like  a  sieve,  he  appointed  him  to 
entertain  the  ambassadors  from  all  nations,  that  he  might  discover 
their  secrets;  he  himself  remaining  perfectly  undisturbed  by  any 
quantity  of  wine. 

A.  D.  282.  The  Germans  having  burnt  the  Roman  shipping  on  the  Rhine,  and 
Bonosus  fearing  that  he  should  be  punished  for  his  neglect,  boldly 
claimed  Britain,  Gaul,  and  Spain,  and  assumed  the  purple.  He  en- 
gaged Probus  in  a  severe  battle,  but  being  overpowered,  he  hanged 
himself.  On  which  occasion,  it  was  said  of  him,  "here  hangs  a  tan- 
hard,  not  a  man."  Probus  gave  his  wife  a  pension,  and  forgave  his 
two  sons.  His  wife's  name  was  Hunila,  of  the  royal  blood  of  the 
Goths.  She  was  a  woman  of  singular  merit,  and  had  been  selected  by 
Aurelian,  in  order  that  through  her  means  Bonosus  might  become 
well  acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  the  Goths.  Aurelian  commanded 
that  the  marriage  should  be  at  the  public  charge,  and  that  Hunila 
should  be  presented  with  silk  gowns  of  a  violet  colour,  and  one  of  silk 
embroidered  with  gold,  one  hundred  golden  Philips,  a  thousand  Anto- 
nines  in  silver,  ten  thousand  sesterces  in  brass,  and  all  such  things  as 
were  proper  for  a  lady  of  quality  f . 

Probus  was  the  first  Emperor  who  permitted  the  Britons  to  plant 
vines,  as  well  as  the  Gauls  and  Spaniards.  He  sent  over  to  Britain 
many  Vandals  and  Burgundians  to  settle  in  the  island. 

*  Zosimus,  p.  32.  f  Flavius  Vopiscus.    Aug.  Hist. 


[ 


Medals  for  Victories  in  Iritaw, 

/See  Description.) 


Plate  3 . 


EmPEROIS   of  JBHITAIN- 


FuHi/hcd  .April.  It,  JdZS. 


REVOLT  IN  BRITAIN.  395 

While  the  Emperor  Carus  was  in  Persia,  he  left  Britain  and  other  CHAP. 

XIII. 

provinces  under  the  goverment  of  his  son  Carinus*.  v^-v-^ 


CARAUSIUS,  EMPEROR  OF  BRITAIN. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Dioclesian,  and  his  associate  Maxi- 
mian  with  the  title  of  Augustus,  and  Galerius  and  Constantius  Chlorus 
with  the  inferior  titles  of  Caesar,  Carausius  a  Menapian,  of  mean  origin, 
commanded  the  Roman  fleet  stationed  at  Boulogne.  He  had  secured 
to  himself  immense  spoil,  taken  from  the  French  and  German  pirates. 
His  great  wealth  being  evidence  of  his  guilt,  Maximian  gave  orders 
that  he  should  be  put  to  death.  Carausius's  riches  had  enabled  him 
to  attach  the  fleet  to  his  fortunes;  and  foreseeing  the  severity  of  the 
Emperor,  he  sailed  over  to  Britain,  persuaded  the  Roman  legions  and 
auxiliaries,  who  guarded  that  island,  to  embrace  his  party ;  built  many 
more  ships,  and  boldly  assumed  the  Imperial  purple  with  the  title  of 
Augustusf.  (A.  D.  287). 

*  Augustan  History,  "  Carinus."  No  Roman  lavished  so  much  art  and  expence 
on  the  hunting  of  wild  beasts  as  Carinus.  Gibbon,  Ch.  XII. 


t  DESCRIPTION  OF  PLATE  3. 

No  (MEDALS  FOR  TRIUMPHS  IN  BRITAIN.) 

28  Claudius. — A  triumphal  arch  at  Colchester.    (Found  at  Littleborough). 

29  Uncertain. — This  is  probably  a  head  of  Claudius,  to  whom,  as  well  as  to  his  son, 

the  senate  had  decreed  the  surname  Britannicus.  Adminius  or  Etiminius 
was  son  of  Cunobeline  king  of  Britain.  His  father  gave  him  part  of  his 
kingdom.  Coins  have  been  found  at  Colchester,  with  this  inscription, 
MTjrpw7roXic  'Etijuiv/s  BaaiXewg.  He  was  expelled,  and  fled  to  Caligula. 
Ainsworth.  "  Etiminius."  (This  medal  was  found  at  Littleborough). 
It  is  highly  probable  that  Claudius  espoused  his  cause. 

EEE  2 


396 


COINS  OF  BRITISH  EMPERORS. 


CHAP.  The  Romans  deplored  the  loss  of  an  island  so  valuable  for  its  rich 
XIII. 

^IJ^j  mines,  temperate  climate,  corn,  abundant  pastures,  wealth,  and  con- 
venient harbours.  Carausius  supported  his  rebellion  with  ability. 
The  British  Emperor  invited  from  the  continent  skilful  artists  in  great 


30  Antoninus  Phis. — (Found  at  Littleborough). 

31  The  same. — (Found  in  Leicestershire).  The  two,  by  the  dates,  are  for  different 

occasions. 

32  Commodus. — (Found  at  Littleborough). 


33  Carausius  (Silver). — Reverse,  Temple  at  Granta,  R.  S.  R.Reipublicse  Securitas 

Restituta.  Hay  in.  Vol.  IT.  Plate  XXVII.  Carausius  was  assassinated  in 
the  Temple  of  Bellona  at  York.  (In  the  possession  of  the  Duke  of  Devon- 
shire). In  this  Emperor's  reign  there  were  struck  in  Britain  about  three 
hundred  different  coins  and  medals. 

34  The  same.  (Silver). — Reverse,  a  lion.  LEG  1111.    The  fourth  leg-ion  was  ap- 

pointed to  go  to  Syria,  but  joined  the  rebel.  Carausius  brought  lions  with 
him  from  Africa.  M.  S.  R.  Moneta  Signata  Rigoduni.  Coined  at  Rible- 
chester,  or  Richmond,  Yorkshire.  Haym.  Vol.  II.  Plate  XXVII.  (Mr. 
Bardon). 

35  The  same. — Reverse,  a  ram.  LEG  VIII.  The  eighth  legion  joined  Carausius. 

M.  L.  Moneta  Londinensis.    Haym.  Vol.  I.  p.  289.    (Lord  Winchelsea). 

36  Sylvius. — The  head,  is  his  father  Carausius,  with  whom  he  was  co-emperor, 

See  Haym.  Vol.  I,  p.  287,  who  conjectures  that  this  reverse  represents  a 
son  or  nephew,  not  being  acquainted  with  the  fact  of  Carausius  having  a  son. 
(Lord  Winchelsea). 

37  Allectus.  (Silver). — (Found  in  London).    Very  rare.    Haym.  Vol.  II.  Plate 

XXVII.    (Duke  of  Devonshire.) 

38  The  same.— Q.  L.  Quinti  Libertus  vel  Liberta.     Ainsworth.    This  would 

not  accord  with  Allectus,  if  the  history  be  correct,  which  assigns  him  two 
or  three  years  only.    (Found  at  Chesterton). 

39  Helena. — 1  at  first  imagined  this  to  be  a  coin  of  the  wife  of  the  British  Em- 

peror, Maximus;  but  Camden  says  it  is  of  Helena,  Empress  of  Constantius 
Chlorus,  and  mother  of  Constantine  the  Great:  she  is  by  some  said  to  have 
been  a  Briton:  as  the  other  Helena  certainly  was,  that  circumstance  may 
have  given  rise  to  the  error.  (Found  at  Chesterton). 
It  is  to  be  observed,  that,  on  some  of  the  medals,  the  words  are  not  rightly  spelt. 
As  they  are  copied  from  engravings,  it  is  possibly  the  fault  of  the  first 
publisher:  even  the  Romans  are  not  corrector  uniform  in  this  respect. 


EMPERORS  OF  BRITAIN. 


POWERFUL  FLEET.— SENATE  IN  BRITAIN.  397 

numbers:  he  displayed  his  taste  and  his  opulence  in  a  great  variety  of  CHAP, 
elegant  coins,  still  extant.  Born  in  Brabant,  he  courted  the  Franks  < 
imitated  their  dress  and  manners,  and  enlisted  their  bravest  youths  in 
his  army  and  navy.  Carausius  kept  possession  of  Boulogne  and  the 
adjacent  country.  His  fleets  commanded  the  mouths  of  the  Seine  and 
the  Rhine,  and  ravaged  the  coasts  of  the  ocean.  The  Romans  had  pre- 
pared a  new  armament,  which  was  commanded  by  Maximian*;  but 
the  superior  power  and  skill  of  Carausius,  in  a  sea-fight  off  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  baffled  it;  and  Dioclesian  and  his  colleague  reluctantly  re- 
signed to  Carausius  the  sovereignty  of  Britain. 

The  British  Emperor  returned  by  way  of  Sorbiodunum,  (Old  Sarum), 
to  London,  which  he  entered  in  an  ovation,  or  lesser  triumph,  and,  on 
the  25th  of  December,  celebrated  the  horse-races  to  Mithras.  He 
declared  his  son  Sylvius  Princeps  Juventutis,  and  President  of  the  Tro- 
jan games  ;  and  the  next  year,  (290),  named  him  Caesar.  He  proceed- 
ed to  York  and  Catterick,  subdued  the  Scots  and  Picts,  repaired  the 
Praetentura  of  Antoninus  in  Scotland,  and  built  seven  castles  there. 
He  also  built  a  triumphal  arch,  and  a  circular  house  of  stone,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Carron. 

In  the  year  291,  Carausius  constituted  a  senate  in  Britain ;  and,  on 
the  27th  May,  he  celebrated  the  LII.  Capitoline  Agonf. 

The  Ceangi  were  defeated  in  a  battle  near  Bath:  Carausius  was  ac- 
companied by  his  Empress  Orivna,  and  his  son  Sylvius,  who  was  soon 
afterwards  created  Augustus,  and  partner  in  the  empire. 

In  the  year  292,  the  city  of  Granta,  on  the  north  side  of  Cambridge, 
was  built,  and  in  it  a  Temple  "  Romae  TEternae."    Many  Roman  roads 

*  Maximian  had  had  some  success  in  Britain,  for  which  he  had  a  triumph.  

Bernard,  Vol.  II.  p.  346. 

t  This  feast  was  for  poets,  orators,  historians,  comedians,  musicians,  athletse,  &c. 
— See  Rees's  Cyc.  "Capitoline." 


398 


SECULAR  GAMES.— TEMPLE  AT  GRANTA.— FLORAL  GAMES. 


CHAP,  were  made,  leading  from  the  city.  On  the  7th  of  September,  the  Em- 
peror  celebrated  the  Quinquennalia*,  (the  origin  of  Sturbech 
or  Sturbridge  fair).  In  October,  the  temple  at  Granta  was  de- 
dicated, and  many  coins  on  that  occasion  were  struck.  (In  this  Em- 
peror's reign,  there  were  struck  in  Britain  about  three  hundred  dif- 
ferent medals  and  coins.)  In  this  month  there  were  fairs  at  York  and 
Boroughbridge ;  at  the  latter,  the  corn  boats  arrived  by  the  rivers  and 
artificial  canals. 

Carausius  sailed,  with  a  powerful  fleet,  into  the  Mediterranean,  to 
excite  the  Africans  in  his  favor,  and  gained  the  advantage,  while  at  sea, 
over  the  fleet  commanded  by  Constantine  Chlorus ;  he  returned  on 
the  19th  of  October,  celebrated  the  Secular  games  f;  and  having 
brought  lions  with  him  from  Africa,  he  exhibited  them  among  his 
other  magnificent  shows.  On  May-day,  295,  the  Emperor  celebrated 
the  Floral  games  in  the  temple  of  Rome  at  Granta  %.  Afterwards, 
the  LIIJ.  Capitoline  Agon  were  celebrated  in  the  Temple  of  Bellona, 
at  York  §. 


Constantius  was  preparing  a  large  fleet,  and  assumed  the  conduct  of 
the  war.  He  raised  a  stupendous  mole  across  the  entrance  of  the 
harbour  and  town  of  Boulogne ;  and  a  considerable  number  of  ves- 

*  In  honour  of  the  deified  Emperors. 

f  These  games  continued  three  days  and  three  nights:  die  people  sacrificed  to 
Jupiter,  Juno,  Diana,  Ceres,  &c.  They  marked  out  a  place  which  served  for  a 
theatre,  which  was  illuminated  with  an  immense  number  of  fires  and  flambeaus. 
Hymns  were  sung-  to  Jupiter  in  Greek  and  Latin.  Theatrical  shows  were  exhi- 
bited, with  combats  and  sports  in  the  circus.  —  Kennet's  Roman  Antiquities, 
p.  299.    Rees's  Cyc.  "  Secular  Games." 

%  At  the  celebratiou  of  the  games  in  honour  of  the  Goddess  Flora,  Galba  enter- 
tained the  people  with  a  new  sight  of  elephants  walking  upon  ropes. — Suetonius, 
Ch.  "VI.  It  is  said  that  Carinus  also  exhibited  elephants  dancing  on  ropes  on 
these  occasions  See  Rees's  Cyc.    "  Florales  Ludi." 

§  Stukely.    History  of  Carausius,  Vol.  II.  p.  170. 


MURDER  OF  CARAUSIUS.— DEATH  OF  ALLECTUS. 


399 


sels  surrendered:  he  also  detached  the  Franks  from  the  interests  of  CHAP. 
Carausiu,  J"^ 


The  British  Emperor  was  murdered,  in  the  temple  of  Bellona,  at 
York,  by  his  first  minister,  Allectus,  in  whom  he  had  placed  the  most 
implicit  confidence*.  The  assassin  usurped  the  power  of  his  master, 
but  was  of  very  inferior  abilities. 

When  Constantius  had  fully  prepared  the  very  large  army  and 
fleet  which  he  had  collected  upon  the  opposite  coast,  he  divided  his 
force :  it  was  so  considerable,  that  he  had  required  three  years  to  per- 
fect it.  The  principal  squadron,  under  the  command  of  the  prsefect 
Asclepiodotus,  captain  of  the  praetorian  guards,  ventured  to  sail,  on  a 
stormy  day,  and  with  a  side  wind,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Seine.  The 
fleet  of  Allectus  was  stationed  off  the  Isle  of  Wight,  to  receive  the 
enemy:  but,  under  cover  of  a  thick  fog,  Asclepiodotus  succeeded  in 
landing  the  imperial  troops  on  the  western  coast,  and  immediately 
reduced  his  fleet  to  ashes. 

Allectus  had  posted  himself  near  London,  to  await  the  attack  of 
Constantius;  but,  on  receiving  this  unwelcome  intelligence,  after  a  pre- 
cipitate and  long  march,  he  encountered  the  praefeet's  whole  force,  with 
a  small  body  of  fatigued  and  disheartened  troops;  many  of  whom  were 
foreign  hirelings,  chiefly  Franks.  Throwing  off  his  purple  robe,  that 
it  might  not  betray  him,  Allectus  rushed  desperately  into  the  battle, 
and  was  quickly  slain,  with  small  loss  to  the  Romans,  but  great 
slaughter  among  the  soldiers  of  the  usurper. 

The  body  of  Allectus  was  found  in  the  field  of  battle,  almost  naked. 
Those  Franks  who  had  survived,  fled  to  London,  in  order  to  pillage 
that  city,  and  then  make  their  escape  by  sea;  but  a  part  of  the  Ro- 
man army,  which  had  been  divided  from  the  rest  by  a  mist  at  sea,  ar- 


*  Aurelius  Victor. 


ARRIVAL  OF  CONSTANTIUS  AND  CONSTANTINE. 

riving  opportunely,  pursued  the  Franks  through  the  streets,  and  killed 
a  great  number  of  them  *. 

When  Constantius  landed  upon  the  shores  of  Kent,  he  found  them 
covered  with  obedient  subjects,  who  rejoiced  to  be  restored  to  the  Ro- 
man empire,  after  a  separation  of  ten  years.  Asclepiodotus  is  said  to 
have  usurped  the  purple,  and  to  have  been  killed  in  a  battle,  leaving 
Constantius  master  of  Britain.  "  O,  invincible  Caesar!"  exclaims  the 
historian,  "  Britain,  and  the  glory  of  the  naval  power  of  Rome,  are  re- 
stored." (A.  D.  297  f). 

THE  ROMAN  POWER  RESTORED. 

A.D.  297.  Constantius  administered  the  affairs  of  his  department,  Gaul, 
Spain,  and  Britain,  with  moderation,  clemency,  and  ability;  winning 
the  hearts  of  his  subjects  in  those  three  provinces  J.  Dioclesian  and 
Maximian,  having  both  resigned  the  purple  on  the  same  day,  (May  1,) 
Constantius  and  Galerius  assumed  the  title  of  Augustus,  (A.D.  304). 
Some  commotions  in  Britain  required  the  presence  of  the  Emperor; 
and  he  crossed  the  sea,  accompanied  by  his  son  Constantine,  then 
thirty  years  of  age,  and  proceeded  to  York.  An  easy  victory  over  the 
Caledonians  was  the  last  exploit  of  this  Emperor,  who  ended  his  life  at 
York,  the  25th  of  July,  306.  Constantius  died  in  the  imperial  palace; 
where,  on  his  royal  bed,  he  took  leave  of  his  children.  The  funeral  rites 
of  the  deceased  monarch  were  performed  with  the  utmost  magnificence. 

*  See  Augustan  History,  Vol.11,  p.  343;  Stow,  Vol.  I.  p.  6;  Milton, 8vo.  p.  105. 

f  See  Henry,  Hist.  Eng.  Vol.  II.  p.  277;  Dr.  Stukeley;  Gibbon,  Ch.  XIII. 
Bernard,  Vol.  II.  p.  346;  and  Rapin.  There  is  much  contrariety  in  the  dates  dur- 
ing this  defection.  JBy  the  Chronology  of  the  Augustan  History,  Carausius  re- 
volted in  286,  and  was  killed  in  292;  and  Britain  was  regained  by  Constantius 
in  295. 

$  Constantius  generally  resided  in  Britain.  —  Zosimus,  p.  40. 


400 


CONSTANTINE  THE  GREAT.— GRANDEUR  OF  CAERLEON. 


401 


An  infinite  number  of  people,  assisting  with  dances,  songs,  and  loud  CHAP, 
acclamations,  congratulated  his  ascension  to  the  Gods. 

The  flower  of  the  western  armies  had  followed  Constantius  into  Bri- 
tain ;  and  the  national  troops  were  reinforced  by  a  numerous  body  of 
Allemanni.  Constantine  was,  by  the  legions,  saluted  Augustus  and 
Emperor.  While  he  remained  at  York,  the  British  soldiers,  in  Ro- 
man pay,  presented  the  new  Emperor  with  a  golden  ball,  as  an  em- 
blem of  his  sovereignty  over  Britain.  On  his  conversion  to  Christian- 
ity, Constantine  placed  a  cross  upon  it :  and  it  has  become  the  sign 
of  majesty*.  After  four  years'  absence,  this  monarch  revisited  A.  D.  311. 
Britain  f . 

During  the  reign  of  Constantine  the  Great,  Britain  enjoyed  pro- 
found tranquillity;  it  was  subject  to  the  prsefect  of  Gaul,  and  was  go- 
verned by  a  deputy  under  him.  Isca  (Caerleon)  was  now,  by  a  new  ar- 
rangement of  Britain,  made  a  third  capital,  and  became  a  great  and  im- 
portant city ;  splendid  palaces  with  gilded  roofs,  a  temple,  a  theatre, 
an  amphitheatre,  and  other  stately  edifices,  made  it  emulate  the  gran- 
deur of  Rome  J. 

In  the  latter  period  of  the  Emperor's  reign,  his  son  Constantine  was 
governor  of  Gaul,  Spain,  and  Britain.  He  built  a  wall  round  London. 
(See  Medal,  No.  26  §). 

*  Drake's  "  York,"  pp.  43,  45.    Gibbon,  Ch.  XIV. 

f  Constantine  raised  an  army  among-  the  Germans  and  Celts,  which,  with  the 
forces  he  drew  from  Britain,  amounted  to  ninety  thousand  foot,  and  eight  thousand 
horse. 

J  Rees's  Cyc.   "  Caerleon." 

§  Camden  says,  that  he  erected  some  structures  at  London.  Gough,  in  a  note, 
says,  that  the  coin  is  generally  referred  to  the  Castra  Praetoria  at  Rome;  but  this 
appears  very  improbable.  After  t  he  massacre  in  the  reign  of  Nero,  a  wall  of  stone 
and  brick  had  been  built  round  London,  which,  in  above  two  centuries,  probably 
required  improving.  There  was  not  an  efficient  wall  to  keep  the  Franks  from  en- 
tering and  pillaging  London  when  Allectus  was  defeated,  if  they  entered  not  by 
F  FF 


402  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  BRITAIN  KILLS  HIMSELF. 

Constantine  the  Great  died  in  the  year  337,  leaving  three  sons,  Con- 
stantine,  Constans,  and  Constantius.  The  first  was  killed  in  a  battle 
against  the  second,  in  340,  when  the  western  division  was  in  the  govern- 
ment of  Constans,  who,  accompanied  by  Constantius,  visited  Britain, 
and  landed  at  Sandwich*.  Constans  was  murdered  in  his  bed  by 
Magnensius,  governor  of  Rhaetia,  at  Autun,  in  Gaul;  and,  at  his  death, 
the  whole  empire  was  possessed  by  Constantius.  He  sent  to  Britain 
one  Paulus,  a  notary,  who  committed  numerous  extortions.  Marti- 
nus,  the  governor,  remonstrated  against  such  unjust  proceedings. 
Paulus  replied,  that  his  opposing  the  execution  of  the  Emperor's  or- 
ders, could  proceed  only  from  a  spirit  of  rebellion :  he  even  accused 
Martinus  of  having  been  concerned  in  the  revolt  of  Magnentius.  The 
indignant  and  enraged  governor  struck  at  Paulus  with  his  sword,  but, 
missing  his  blow,  he  plunged  it  into  his  own  breast.  The  merciless 
Paulus  now  condemned  to  death,  banishment,  or  imprisonment,  all 
who  resisted  his  will,  without  ever  being  restrained  by  the  Emperor. 
A.  D.  360.  He  was  afterwards  burnt  alive. 

The  Western  Empire,  Britain  included,  was  now  under  Julian,  (the 
apostate) :  he  sent  a  body  of  troops  under  the  command  of  Lupicilius 
A.D.  362.  to  oppose  the  ravages  of  the  Scots  and  Picts.    On  his  arrival  in  Lon- 
don he  was  recalled;  the  enemy  having  submitted. 

In  the  reign  of  Valentinian  the  First,  the  Attacotti,  (a  tribe  of  Cale- 
donians, accused  of  delighting  in  the  taste  of  human  flesh*),  the  Picts, 

stratagem.    Stow  says,  (p.  7),  that  the  Empress  Helena  built  the  wall,  A.  D.  306. 
There  is  every  probability  that  it  was  finished  by  Constantine,  junior. 
*  See  Milton,  8vo.  p.  107. 

t  "  The  Attacotti,  the  enemies,  and  afterwards  the  soldiers  of  Valentinian,  are 
accused  by  Jerom,  an  eye-witness,  (whose  veracity  I  find  no  reason  to  question), 
of  delighting  in  the  taste  of  human  flesh.  When  they  hunted  the  woods  for  prey, 
it  is  said,  that  they  attacked  the  shepherd  rather  than  his  flock;  and  that  they 
curiously  selected  the  most  delicate  and  brawny  parts,  both  of  males  and  females, 


THEODOSIUS  ARRIVES  IN  BRITAIN.  403 

Scots,  Franks,  and  Saxons,  all,  either  by  accident  or  common  league,  in-  CHAP. 

XIII 

vaded  the  Roman  province  by  sea  and  land  at  once,  and  made  great  ^~v-^» 
ravages.  Every  production  of  art  and  nature,  every  object  of  con- 
venience or  luxury,  was  accumulated  in  the  rich  and  fruitful  province 
of  Britain.  Severus  and  Jovinus  successively  endeavoured  in  vain  to 
stop  the  fury  of  these  inroads.  At  length,  Valentinian  sent  Theodo- 
sius  to  command  in  Britain.  The  two  military  commanders  of  the 
province  had  been  surprised  and  cut  off  by  the  barbarians :  and  every 
messenger  that  escaped  to  the  continent,  conveyed  the  most  alarming 
tidings.  A  person  named  Valentinian  had  been  banished  to  Britain, 
and  endeavoured  to  render  himself  absolute  about  this  period,  but  was 
soon  deprived  of  his  hopes  and  his  life  % 

The  nomination  of  so  great  a  general  as  Theodosius,  (the  father  of  a 
line  of  Emperors),  was  deemed  by  the  army  and  the  province,  a  sure 
presage  of  approaching  victory :  the  new  governor  landed  at  Sandwich,  A.D.  367. 


which  they  prepared  for  their  horrid  repasts.  If  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  com- 
mercial and  literary  town  of  Glasgow,  a  race  of  cannibals  has  really  existed,  we 
may  contemplate,  in  the  period  of  the  Scottish  history,  the  extremes  of  savage  and 
civilized  life.  Such  reflections  tend  to  enlarge  the  circle  of  our  ideas;  and  to  en- 
courage the  pleasing  hope,  that  New  Zealand  may  produce,  in  some  future  age, 
the  Hume  of  the  Southern  hemisphere.  The  bands  of  Attacotti  which  Jerom  had 
seen  in  Gaul,  were  afterwards  stationed  in  Italy  and  Illyricum."    Gibbon,  Ch. 

XXV  Ammianus  Marcellinus  mentions  the  Attacotti,  but  does  not  say  any 

thing  about  their  being  cannibals.  Could  such  a  remarkable  fact  have  existed 
and  not  have  been  noticed  by  Tacitus,  or  any  other  Roman  historian?  Agricola's 
line  of  forts,  and  the  ramparts  of  Antoninus,  were  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Glas- 
gow; and  Roman  garrisons,  of  numbers  of  troops,  were  stationed  there:  that 
neighbourhood  was,  consequently,  well  known,  and  it  is  quite  incredible  that 
such  a  horrid  custom  could  have  escaped  especial  and  notorious  remark.  This 
charge  against  the  Attacotti  had  scarcely  been  worth  notice,  were  it  not  sanctioned 
by  such  authority  as  Gibbon:  but  as  it  stands  solely  on  the  assertion  of  a  bigoted 
passionate  controversialist,  it  is  not  worthy  of  belief. 
*  Zosimus,  p.  100. 

F  F  F  2 


404 


LONDON  IS  NAMED  AUGUSTA. 


CHAP,  and  marched  to  London,  (A.D.  367),  with  his  numerous  and  veteran 
XIII. 

^r-^^u  bands :  the  citizens  threw  open  their  gates. 

The  desultory  warfare  of  the  barbarians  who  infested  the  land  and 
sea,  deprived  Theodosius  of  a  signal  victory  :  but  his  consummate  art 
and  prudence,  displayed  in  two  campaigns,  rescued  the  province  from 
the  cruel  and  rapacious  enemy.  Theodosius  entered  London  in 
triumph.  The  splendour  of  London  and  of  the  other  cities,  and  the 
security  of  the  fortifications,  were  restored. 

The  Caledonians  were  confined  to  their  northern  region,  above  the 
Frith  of  Forth ;  and  the  territory  south  of  that,  down  to  the  Tyne, 
was  named  Valentia,  to  perpetuate  the  glories  of  the  reign  of  Valen- 
tinian :  and  to  the  city  of  London  was  given  the  name  of  Augusta. 

Theodosius  returned  to  the  continent  with  the  highest  reputation 
for  prudence,  justice,  vigour,  and  clemency;  and  his  great  merit  was 
rewarded  by  the  Emperor  with  applause  and  without  envy. 

Britain  was  now  divided  into  five  provinces,  and  a  governor  was 
appointed  to  each  of  them. 

In  the  reign  of  Gratian  and  Valentinian  II.  on  the  Picts  and  Scots 
beginning  to  threaten  hostility,  Maximus,  a  Spaniard  of  distinction, 
was  invested  with  the  command  in  Britain  *.  He  designed  to  subject 
the  whole  island  to  the  dominion  of  the  Romans ;  but  finding  the 
union  of  the  Scots  and  Picts  a  great  obstacle  to  the  execution  of  his 
project,  he  feigned  to  be  exasperated  against  the  Scots,  as  the  sole 
cause  of  the  troubles  in  Britain;  and  persuaded  the  Picts  to  join  their 
forces  to  his,  on  the  promise  of  giving  them  the  lands  of  the  Scots. 
His  artifice  succeeded.  The  Scots  being  thus  overpowered,  were 
forced  to  fly  to  Ireland  and  the  adjacent  isles.    Maximus  permitted 


*  Gibbon  does  not  allow  that  Maximus  was  either  governor,  or  a  general. 
SeeRapin,  and  Gibbon,  Ch.  XXVII.  and  Milton,  8vo,  p.  111. 


REVOLT  OF  MAXIMUS.— HELENA. 


405 


the  Picts  to  take  possession  of  the  new  conquests ;  when  affairs  of  ^^P. 

Xsi-.ii. 

higher  importance  to  himself  diverted  his  attention.  ^**<y?mt 

The  two  Emperors  associated  as  a  third,  Theodosius,  the  son  of  the 
general  who  had  commanded  with  such  distinguished  renown  in 
Britain.  Maximus,  highly  jealous  and  affronted  at  not  having  been 
preferred  to  Theodosius,  resolved  to  assume  the  imperial  dignity.  To 
forward  his  project,  he  intended  to  gain  the  friendship  and  confidence 
of  the  Picts ;  and,  leaving  the  island  in  peace,  to  wage  war  against 
the  three  Emperors.  In  the  mean  time,  the  Scots,  assisted  by  the  Irish, 
invaded  the  north,  and  Maximus  was  obliged  to  head  his  troops  against 
them.  They  were  defeated  and  driven  back  to  Ireland :  and  on  Maxi- 
mus threatening  to  invade  that  country,  and  punish  the  Irish,  the  fear 
they  had  of  the  presence  of  a  Roman  army,  induced  them  to  grant 
Maximus  his  own  terms,  which,  in  order  to  conciliate  all  parties,  were 
moderate. 

Maximus  had  long  resided  in  Britain,  and  is  said  to  have  married 
Helena,  daughter  of  Eudda,  a  wealthy  nobleman  of  Caersegont,  (Caer- 
narvon)*. He  was  a  person  of  acknowledged  abilities  and  integrity; 
born  in  Spain,  the  countryman,  fellow-soldier  in  Britain,  and  rival  of 
Theodosius. 


The  legions  in  Britain  had  long  been  famous  for  a  spirit  of  presump- 
tion and  arrogance.  Both  the  soldiers  and  provincials  proclaimed 
Maximus  Emperor.    (A.D.  382). 

Gratian,  Emperor  of  the  West  had*  degraded  himself  in  the  eyes  of 


MAXIMUS,  EMPEROR  OF  BRITAIN. 


*  See  Pennant's  Tour  in  Wales,  Vol.  II.    Carte's  Hist,  of  Eng.  Vol.  I. 


406  SCYTHIAN  HUNTERS  AT  PARIS.— EMIGRATION  FROM  BRITAIN. 

CHAP,  the  Romans  by  neglecting  the  duties  of  a  sovereign  and  a  general, 
v-^-v-w'  The  skill  which  he  had  attained  in  the  management  of  a  horse,  and 
A.D.  382.  the  dexterity  with  which  he  could  dart  a  javelin  and  draw  a  bow,  had 
inspired  him  with  an  ardent  passion  for  the  chace.  Large  parks  were 
enclosed  for  the  imperial  pleasures,  and  plentifully  stocked  with  every 
species  of  ivild  beasts.  A  body  of  the  Alana  was  received  into  the 
domestic  and  military  service  of  the  palace,  and  the  admirable  skill 
which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  display  in  the  unbounded  plains 
of  Scythia,  was  exercised  in  the  parks  and  enclosures  of  Gaul. 

Gratian,  in  admiration  of  the  talents  and  customs  of  these  favorite 
guards,  assumed  the  fur  dress,  the  bow,  and  the  quiver,  of  a  Scythian 
warrior.  Even  the  Germans  affected  to  disdain  the  strange  appear- 
ance of  these  savages  of  the  north,  who  had  wandered  from  the  re- 
gions of  the  Volga  to  the  banks  of  the  Seine  *.  The  unworthy  specta- 
cle of  a  Roman  prince,  who  had  renounced  the  dress  of  his  country, 
filled  the  legions  with  grief  and  indignation. 

Maximus  could  not  hope  to  reign  by  confining  his  ambition  to  Bri- 
tain. The  youth  of  the  island  crowded  to  his  standard ;  and  he  in- 
vaded Gaul  with  a  fleet  and  army,  which  were  long  afterwards  remem- 
bered as  a  considerable  part  of  the  British  nation  f . 

The  Emperor  was,  in  his  peaceful  residence  of  Paris,  idly  wasting 
his  darts  on  lions  and  bears.    The  armies  of  Gaul  received  Maximus 

*  Gibbon's  Roman  Empire,  Ch.  XXVIT.    Zosimus,  B.  IV. 

f  According  to  Archbishop  Usher,  the  whole  emigration  consisted  of  thirty 
thousand  soldiers,  and  one  hundred  thousand  plebeians,  who  settled  in  Bretagne. 
Their  destined  brides,  St.  Ursula,  with  eleven  thousand  noble,  and  sixty  thousand 
plebeian  virgins,  mistook  their  way,  and  arrived  at  Cologne,  where  they  were  mur- 
dered by  the  Huns.  —Gibbon,  Ch.  XXVII.  Lady  M.  W.  Montague  writes  to  La- 
dy Rich  from  Cologne,  August  16th,  1716:  "  I  was  very  well  satisfied  to  see, 
piled  up  to  the  honour  of  our  nation,  the  skulls  of  eleven  thousand  virgins." — 
Ed.  1803,  Vol.  II.  p.  13. 


ASSASSINATION  OF  GRATIAN. 


407 


with  ioyal  and  joyful  acclamations.  The  Mauritanian  cavalry  were  CHAP, 
the  first  who  saluted  him  Augustus:  and  the  troops  of  the  palace  v^-v-^, 
abandoned  the  standard  of  Gratian,  the  first  time  it  was  displayed,  in  ^.D.  38< 
the  neighbourhood  of  Paris. 

The  Emperor  of  the  West  fled,  with  three  hundred  horse,  towards 
Lyons.  All  the  cities  upon  the  road  shut  their  gates  against  him ;  but 
he  might  have  reached  the  dominions  of  his  brother  Valentinian,  had 
he  not  been  deceived  by  the  perfidious  governor  of  the  Lyonese  pro- 
vince, who  amused  him  with  protestations  of  doubtful  fidelity,  till  the 
arrival  of  Andragathius,  general  of  the  cavalry  of  Maximus,  who  exe- 
cuted, without  remorse,  the  intentions  of  the  British  usurper.  Gra- 
tian,  as  he  rose  from  supper,  was  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  assas- 
sin, (August  25th,  383).  His  death  was  followed  by  that  of  his  power- 
ful general,  Mellobaudes,  the  king  of  the  Franks.  After  these  execu- 
tions, the  power  of  Maximus  was  acknowledged  by  all  the  provinces 
of  the  west. 

The  British  Emperor  sent  his  principal  chamberlain  to  the  East- 
ern Emperor ;  and  the  choice  of  a  venerable  old  man,  for  an  office  which 
was  usually  exercised  by  eunuchs,  announced  to  the  court  of  Con- 
stantinople, the  gravity  and  temperance  of  the  British  usurper.  The 
ambassador  condescended  to  justify  or  excuse  the  conduct  of  his  mas- 
ter, and  protested,  in  specious  language,  that  the  murder  of  Gratian 
had  been  perpetrated  without  his  consent,  by  the  precipitate  zeal  of 
the  soldiers.  The  speech  of  the  ambassador  concluded  with  a  spirited 
declaration,  that  though  Maximus,  as  a  Roman,  and  as  a  father  of  his 
people,  would  chuse  rather  to  employ  his  forces  in  the  common  de- 
fence of  the  republic;  he  was  prepared,  if  his  friendship  should  be  re- 
jected, to  dispute,  in  a  field  of  battle,  the  Empire  of  the  World.  An 
immediate  and  peremptory  answer  was  required. 

The  imperious  voice  of  honour  and  gratitude  called  aloud  for  re- 


408 


THEODOSIUS. — THE  EMPRESS  JUSTINA. 


CHAP,  venge;  but  the  most  weighty  considerations  engaged  Theodosius  to 
v^-v**^  dissemble  his  resentment;  and  he  accepted  the  alliance  of  Maximus. 

He  stipulated  that  Valentinian,  the  brother  of  Gratian,  should  be  con- 
firmed in  the  sovereignty  of  Italy,  Africa,  and  western  Illyricum ;  and 
that  Maximus  should  content  himself  with  the  countries  beyond  the 
Alps. 

A.D.  387.  The  aspiring  Maximus,  who  might  have  reigned  in  peace  over  the 
empire  of  Britain,  Gaul,  and  Spain ;  having  employed  the  wealth  which 
he  had  extorted  from  those  three  provinces  in  raising  and  maintain- 
ing a  formidable  army,  collected  from  the  fiercest  nations  of  Germany, 
passed  the  Alps,  invaded  Italy,  and  seized  Milan.  Valentinian  and 
his  mother,  the  Empress  Justina,  a  lady  of  extraordinary  beauty, 
with  her  daughter,  Galla,  embarked  with  precipitation  on  board  a 
vessel,  and  reached  a  port  in  Thessalonica. 

Theodosius  equipped  a  powerful  fleet  in  the  harbours  of  Greece  and 
Epirus ;  while  he  himself  marched  at  the  head  of  a  brave  and  disci- 
plined army,  to  encounter  his  unworthy  rival;  who,  after  the  siege  of 
JEmona,  had  fixed  his  camp  near  Siscia,  a  city  of  Pannonia,  strongly 
fortified  by  the  broad  and  rapid  stream  of  the  Save  *. 

Theodosius  possessed  the  advantage  of  a  numerous  cavalry.  The 
Huns,  the  Alani,  and  the  Goths,  were  formed  into  squadrons  of 

*  Zosimus,  who  M  as  bigoted  to  the  ancient  Pagan  religion,  and  hated  Theodo- 
sius, who  was  a  Christian,  wishes  to  make  it  appear  that  he  would  have  divided 
the  empire  with  Maximus;  but  that  Justina,  to  urge  Theodosius  to  revenge  the 
death  of  her  son  Gratian,  introduced  into  his  presence  her  daughter  Galla,  who  was 
remarkably  beautiful,  and  was  in  tears  for  the  loss  of  her  brother.  Justina  soon 
perceived  the  effect  of  Galla's  beauty  on  the  Emperor,  who  gave  them  favorable 
hopes.  In  a  few  days,  Theodosius  requested  Justina  to  grant  him  her  daughter, 
(his  wife  Platilla  was  dead),  but  she  refused,  unless  he  would  make  war  on  Maxi- 
mus. Being  thus  excited  by  his  passion  for  Galla,  he  not  only  conciliated  the 
soldiers  by  augmenting  their  pay,  but  he  was  thus  roused  from  his  negligence  in 
other  affairs  that  would  require  attention  after  his  departure. — Zosimus,  p.  121. 


THE  BRITISH  EMPEROR  IS  BEHEADED.  409 

archers ;  who  fought  on  horseback,  and  confounded  the  steady  valour  of  VH^?' 
the  Germans  and  Gauls,  by  the  rapid  motions  of  a  Tartar  war.    They  v^-^-^ 
spurred  their  foaming  horses  into  the  Save,  swam  across  in  face  of  the  A.D.  388. 
enemy  upon  the  opposite  bank,  charged  and  routed  them.  Marcelli- 
nus,  the  brother  of  Maximus,  with  the  select  strength  of  the  army,  the 
next  morning  renewed  the  contest;  but  after  a  sharp  conflict,  the  re- 
maining brave  troops  of  Maximus  threw  clown  their  arms  at  the  feet 
of  the  conqueror. 

Theodosius  pursued  his  vanquished  foe,  in  order  to  finish  the  war 
by  the  death  or  captivity  of  his  rival,  who  fled  before  him ;  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  first  day,  such  was  his  incredible  speed,  he  had  passed 
the  Julian  Alps,  and  reached  Aquileia;  Maximus  having  scarcely  time 
to  shut  the  gates  of  the  city.  They  were  quickly  forced,  and  the 
wretched  Emperor,  rudely  stripped  of  his  Imperial  robe,  diadem,  and 
purple  slippers,  was  dragged  to  the  camp  and  presence  of  Theodosius; 
who  was  inclined  to  pity  and  forgive  his  fallen  rival:  but  public  jus- 
tice and  the  memory  of  Gratian,  induced  him  to  abandon  the  victim 
to  the  soldiers,  who  drew  him  away  from  the  Imperial  presence,  and 
instantly  beheaded  him.  Victor,  the  son  of  Maximus,  on  whom  the 
title  of  Augustus  had  been  bestowed,  was  also  put  to  death  by  the 
order  of  Arbogastes.  Maximus  had  learnt  that  Theodosius  had  sent 
Justina  with  Valentinian  and  Galla  to  Rome,  by  sea ;  knowing  that 
Romans  would  receive  them  with  pleasure,  because  they  were  disaf- 
fected to  Maximus.  The  British  Emperor  collected  a  number  of  swift 
sailing  ships,  and  sent  them  to  cruise  in  every  direction ;  but  the  com- 
mander, x\dragathius,  failed  of  his  purpose,  they  having  crossed  the 
Ionian  sea.  When  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of  Maximus  reached 
Adragathius,  he  instantly  drowned  himself. 

G  GG 


410  THE  PICTS  AND  SCOTS.— FERGUS  II. 

CHAP. 
XIII. 


A.D.  388.  ROMAN  POWER  RESTORED. 


Theqdosius  passed  the  winter  at  Milan,  restoring  the  mischiefs 
caused  by  the  civil  war;  and  in  the  spring  made  his  triumphal  entry 
into  the  ancient  capital  of  the  Roman  empire  *. 

During  the  life  of  Theodosius,  Britain  remained  in  peace.  This 
great  Emperor  died  of  a  dropsy  at  Milan,  January  17th,  395,  after 
having,  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  made  a  painful  effort  to  contribute 
to  the  public  joy,  by  his  presence  at  a  splendid  exhibition  of  the 
games  and  spectacles  of  the  circus,  to  welcome  the  arrival  of  Hono- 
rius,  who,  with  his  brother  Arcadius,  succeeded  to  the  Empire. 
A.D.  395.  Honorius  was  very  young,  and  the  famous  Stilico  was  appointed 
by  Theodosius  regent  during  the  minority.  Stilico's  first  care  was, 
to  send  a  governor  with  a  legion,  into  Britain,  to  curb  the  insolence  of 
the  Picts,  who  began  to  make  inroads  into  the  Roman  province. 
Stilico  for  this  purpose  made  choice  of  Victorinus,  a  person  of  a  fierce 
and  arrogant  temper.  He  confined  the  Picts  strictly  within  their  li- 
mits, treated  them  as  subjects  of  the  empire,  and  even  forbade  them  to 
crown  another  king  in  the  room  of  Hungust,  who  had  just  died.  The 
Picts  finding  their  liberty  in  danger,  regretted  the  loss  of  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Scots,  as  on  former  occasions ;  they  therefore  resolved  to 
recal  them :  to  which  end  they  sent  an  honourable  embassy  to  Fer- 
gus f,  a  prince  of  the  blood  royal  of  Scotland,  who  had  retired  to  Den- 
mark;  and  invited  him  to  come  and  take  possession  of  the  country. 


*  Zosimus,  B.  IV* 

f  Fergus  the  Second  ;  he  died  in  404. 


BRITISH  EMPEROR  CONSTANTINE. 

Fergus  accepted  the  offer,  and  made  his  intentions  known,  that  he  was 
ready  to  lead  back  the  fugitive  Scots. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  troubles  which  existed  in  the  Roman  empire 
had  obliged  Stilico  to  recal  Victorinus  and  his  legions.  At  this  junc- 
ture the  Scots  entered  the  island,  under  the  command  of  Fergus,  who 
was  unanimously  chosen  their  king. 

Fergus,  at  the  head  of  the  Scots  and  Picts,  after  taking  the  fortresses 
built  by  Theodosius,  (the  father  of  the  Emperor),  advanced  to  Severus's 
wall,  which  was  weakly  defended ;  entered  the  Roman  province,  and 
laid  waste  the  country. 

Since  the  subjection  of  Britain  to  Rome  so  many  Roman  and  foreign 
families  had  settled  there,  and  were  now  so  mixed  with  the  natives, 
that  they  made  but  one  people,  and  from  this  period  the  term  Britons 
is  applied  to  this  mixed  nation,  all  having  a  common  interest. 

EMPERORS  OF  BRITAIN  ELECTED. 

The  Britons,  despairing  of  any  effectual  assistance  from  Rome,  re-  A.J).  408. 
solved  to  elect  an  Emperor  whose  interest  it  should  be  to  protect 
them.  Their  choice  fell  on  an  officer  named  Marcus,  a  person  much 
esteemed  by  them.  But  Marcus  not  having  the  good  fortune  to 
please  all  the  world,  was  soon  slain,  and  another,  named  Gratian,  was 
presented  with  a  diadem  and  a  purple  robe.  Four  months  after  his 
election,  Gratian,  being  of  a  cruel  and  bloody  disposition,  met  the 
same  fate. 

The  next  who  was  raised  to  the  imperial  dignity,  was  a  common 
soldier,  in  consequence  of  the  good  fortune  supposed  to  be  attached 
to  his  name,  which  was  Constantine.    Being  a  man  of  courage,  and  of 

GGG2 


411 


412  CONQUEST  OF  GAUL  AND  SPAIN. 

Cvt^F'  a  Senius  far  above  his  former  condition,  Constantine  drove  back  the 
v-*— s**J  Northern  invaders,  and  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  them. 

From  this  success,  the  fortunate  soldier's  ambition  was  inflamed 
with  the  desire  to  become  master  of  the  Roman  Empire.  He  formed 
an  army  of  the  islanders;  and  the  remaining  Romans  passed  over  the 
sea,  landed  at  Boulogne ;  and  his  title  was  acknowledged  by  those  ci- 
ties in  Gaul  which  were  still  free. 

While  Constantine  was  preparing  his  army  at  Orleans,  where  here- 
sided,  he  sent  ambassadors  to  Honorius,  who  was  at  that  juncture  at- 
tacked by  Alaric,  king  of  the  Goths,  to  acquaint  him  of  his  being 
chosen  Emperor  by  Britain,  and  to  excuse  his  acceptation  of  that  dig- 
nity without  the  knowledge  of  Honorius.  The  Emperor,  being  so 
pressed  by  the  Goths,  was  forced  to  acknowledge  Constantine  as  his 
associate  in  the  Empire.  This  condescension  on  the  part  of  Hono- 
rius, so  far  from  satisfying,  served  only  to  inspire  this  new  Emperor 
with  still  higher  views.  He  sent  for  his  son,  Constans,  who  was  in  a 
monastery  at  Winchester;  and  associating  him  in  power  with  the 
title  of  Caesar,  and  leaving  him  in  the  command  of  an  army  to 
maintain  his  authority,  Constantine  marched  towards  the  Alps,  in  or- 
der to  invade  Italy  and  dethrone  Honorius.  On  his  arrival  at  the  Py- 
renees, Constantine  was  opposed  by  four  brothers,  kinsmen  of  Hono- 
rius, who,  from  a  spirit  of  family  zeal  and  interest,  nobly  attempted, 
with  levies  hastily  collected,  at  their  own  expense,  to  check  the  in- 
vader ;  but  they  were  utterly  defeated  by  a  corps  called  Honorians, 
who,  for  rewards  and  honours,  entered  into  the  service  of  Constan- 
tine. They  consisted  of  about  five  thousand  Scots,  Gallicani,  Moors, 
and  Marcomanni.  Two  of  the  brothers  escaped  by  sea,  and  the  other 
two,  who  with  their  wives  had  been  captured,  after  a  short  suspense, 
were  executed  at  Aries.    Spain  submitted. 

The  title  of  Constantine  was  now  acknowledged,  from  the  frontier  of 


CONSTANTINE  INVADES  ITALY. 


113 


Scotland  to  the  Pillars  of  Hercules.    By  means  of  a  secret  correspond-  CHAP. 

.  .  XIII. 

ence  with  the  court  of  Honorius,  Constantine  extorted  a  ratification  ^s-v— ^ 

of  his  claims,  engaging  himself,  by  a  solemn  promise,  to  deliver  Italy 
from  the  Goths.  He  had  secured  the  passes  of  the  Cottian,  the  Pen- 
nine, and  the  Maritime  Alps ;  and  he  advanced  as  far  as  the  Po,  but 
hastily  returned  to  Aries  to  celebrate,  with  ostentation  and  luxury,  his 
vain  triumph. 

Constans,  his  son,  who  was  now  invested  with  the  imperial  purple, 
commanded  in  Spain,  and  during  his  absence  had  appointed  his  brav- 
est general,  Gerontius,  to  govern  that  province.  It  was  by  the  able 
conduct  of  this  officer  that  Gaul  and  Spain  were  subdued.  The  un- 
grateful Constantine,  jealous  of  his  general's  fame,  sent  orders  for  his 
removal  from  his  post. 

Gerontius  rebelled ;  but,  for  some  reason  not  known,  he  placed  the 
diadem  upon  the  head  of  a  friend,  named  Maximus,  who  resided  at 
Tarragona;  while  he  pressed  forward  through  the  Pyrenees  to  sur- 
prise the  two  Emperors,  before  they  could  prepare  for  their  defence. 
The  unfortunate  Constans  was  surrounded  at  Vienne,  whence  he  sal- 
lied forth,  and  rushed  upon  death ;  having  had  scarcely  time  to  deplore 
his  fatal  elevation,  and  the  deserting  of  his  peaceful  monastic  seclusion 
at  Winchester. 

The  father  defended  Aries  against  Gerontius;  and  that  city  must 
have  fallen,  had  not  an  army  from  Italy  suddenly  approached.  Both 
the  besieged  and  the  besiegers  were  confounded.  Gerontius,  aban- 
doned by  his  troops,  escaped  towards  Spain.  In  the  night,  a  great 
body  of  his  own  soldiers,  who  had  been  awed  by  a  proclamation,  in 
the  name  of  Honorius,  their  lawful  Emperor,  surrounded  and  attacked 
his  house,  which  he  had  barricadoed.  His  wife,  a  valiant  friend  of  the 
nation  of  the  Alani,  and  some  slaves,  were  with  him;  and  a  large 


414  MISFORTUNES  OF  GERONTIUS,  A  BRITON. 

CHAP,  magazine  of  darts  and  arrows  were  used,  with  such  resolution,  that  three 
^-«*~ v~*»~>  hundred  of  the  assailants  lost  their  lives. 

The  missile  weapons  being  spent,  the  slaves  deserted  at  the  dawn  of 
day.  The  defence  was  continued;  and  the  soldiers,  provoked  by  such 
obstinacy,  set  fire  to  the  house  on  all  sides.  In  this  fatal  extremity, 
Gerontius  complied  with  the  request  of  his  barbarian  friend,  and  cut 
off  his  head.  His  wife,  Nonnichia,  whom  he  loved,  conjured  him  not 
to  abandon  her  to  despair  and  disgrace,  and  eagerly  presented  her  neck 
to  his  sword.  The  tragedy  was  closed  by  the  unfortunate  Gerontius 
sheathing  a  dagger  in  his  own  heart  *.  His  friend  Maximus,  after  en- 
joying the  phantom  of  authority  a  short  while,  was  resigned  to  the 
justice  of  Honorius,  and,  after  being  shewn  at  Ravenna  and  Rome,  was 
publicly  executed. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  British  Emperor  was  besieged  in  Aries,  by 
the  general  Constantius :  but  he  had  sufficient  time  to  negotiate  with 
the  Franks  and  Alemanni ;  and  his  ambassador,  Edobic,  a  Frank  by 
extraction,  but  a  native  of  Britain,  returned  at  the  head  of  an  army, 
and  attacked  the  besiegers;  his  troops,  by  a  stratagem,  were  sud- 
denly surrounded,  but  their  leader  escaped  from  the  field  of  battle  to 
the  house  of  a  faithless  friend,  who  too  clearly  understood  how  accept- 
able a  present  the  head  of  his  obnoxious  guest  would  be  to  the  impe- 
rial commander.  Constantius  turned  with  horror  from  the  assassin 
of  Edobic;  and  sternly  gave  his  orders,  that  the  camp  should  no 
longer  be  polluted  by  the  presence  of  a  wretch,  who  had  thus  treated 
a  friend,  who,  in  his  distress,  had  claimed  his  protection. 

This  conduct  inspired  Constantine,  who  from  the  walls  of  Aries 
had  beheld  the  destruction  of  his  last  hope,  with  confidence  in  so 


*  Gerontius  was  a  Briton — Zosimus,  p.  172. 


INDEPENDENCE  OF  BRITAIN. 


415 


generous  a  conqueror.  He  obtained  a  solemn  promise  for  his  security, 
and  submitted. 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


The  abdicated  sovereign,  his  brother  Sebastian,  and  his  son  Julian,  A.D.  411. 
were  sent,  under  a  strong  guard,  into  Italy ;  and,  before  they  reached 
the  palace  at  Ravenna,  they  met  the  ministers  of  death.  (November 
28,411).  Thus  fell  this  British  Emperor,  who,  like  so  many  others, 
proved  that  ambition  and  moderation  can  never  exist  in  the  same  per- 
son. 

During  the  absence  of  Constantine,  the  Scots  and  Picts  seized  the 
opportunity  to  break  through  the  barrier,  and  ravage  the  country ;  on 
which  the  Britons  assembled  in  arms,  and  repelled  the  invaders.  Re- 
joicing in  the  discovery  of  their  own  strength,  they  expelled  the 
magistrates  who  acted  under  the  authority  of  Constantine,  and  estab- 
lished a  free  government.  The  independence  of  Britain  was  confirm- 
ed by  Honorius. 

In  the  reign  of  Valentinian  III.  a  Roman  legion  was  sent  to  the 
assistance  of  the  Britons,  and  the  northern  invaders  were  confined 
within  the  barrier;  but  necessity  caused  the  recal  of  this  legion 
to  Italy.  Gallio,  the  commander,  before  he  departed,  assisted  the 
Britons  to  repair  the  wall  of  Severus;  and  recommended  them  to 
inure  themselves  to  arms. 

The  Romans  had  been  masters  of  the  island  near  four  centuries, 
and  had  never  suffered  the  Britons  to  be  disciplined  to  the  use  of 
arms.  It  being  their  policy  to  employ  foreign  troops  in  their  con- 
quests, the  soldiers  levied  in  Britain  were  sent  into  other  provinces, 
and  from  whence  they  never  returned.  These  levies  were  so  nume- 
rous, that  twelve  considerable  bodies  of  British  soldiers  were  dispersed 
throughout  the  empire,  and  were  always  recruited  from  Britain.  If 
there  be  added  the  immense  armies,  and  their  followers,  who  succes- 
sively accompanied  the  British  emperors  Maximus  and  Constantine, 


416 


FINAL  DEPARTURE  OF  THE  ROMANS. 


CHAP,    to  contest  the  throne  with  the  masters  of  the  world,  the  weak  con- 
XIII. 

v^*-v-w>  dition  of  the  island  is  accounted  for.  The  Romans  now  bade  a  final 
A.D.427.  farewel*. 


Britain  became  a  scene  of  jealousies,  tumults,  and  contention 
for  power  among  the  nobles,  who  sought  to  destroy  their  rivals. 
This  anarchy  and  confusion  produced  their  necessary  consequence, 
famine  and  desolation.  Vortigern,  the  last  of  these  kings  or  chiefs, 
fearing  the  fate  of  his  predecessors,  proposed,  in  a  general  assembly, 
to  call  in  the  aid  of  the  Saxons,  to  repel  the  Scots  and  Picts,  His 
proposal  was  accepted  with  joy.  (A.  D.  449). 


Hengist  the  Saxon  carried  devastation  into  the  most  remote  corners 
of  the  island :  he  spared  neither  age  nor  sex,  nor  condition.  Temples, 
palaces,  and  private  edifices  were  reduced  to  ashes:  priests  were 
slaughtered  on  the  altars;  the  bishops  and  the  nobility  shared  the 
same  fate.  The  people,  flying  to  the  mountains,  were  butchered  in 
heaps;  and  many  took  shelter  and  settled  in  Armorica  with  their 
countrymen.  Thus  were  the  towns,  colonies,  and  public  buildings 
suddenly  reduced  to  heaps  of  ruins,  and  the  whole  island  desolated  by 
the  idolatrous  and  savage  Saxons  f . 

IMPORTANCE  OF  BRITAIN  TO  THE  ROMANS. 

The  private  manners  and  public  amusements  which  prevailed  in 
Roman  Britain,  are  unknown:  it  is  only  from  occasional  allusions 

*  See  Camden,  Henry,  Rapin,  Gibbon,  Zosimus,  Milton, 
f  See  Hume  ;  and  Milton,  8vo,  p.  134. 


* 


LEAD  MINES  WORKED  BY  THE  ROMANS. 

to  that  country  by  a  few  Roman  writers,  that  any  thing  is  to  be  col- 
lected; and  then  only  in  times  of  war.  The  high  value  and  import- 
ance of  that  island  may  be  estimated  by  the  number  of  Emperors,  or 
other  eminent  persons  who  became  Emperors,  who  visited  or  reigned 
in  Britain  *. 

In  a  short  time  after  the  Romans  had  carried  their  arms  through 
Britain,  they  began  to  apply  with  vigour  to  the  working  of  the  mines. 
At  first  the  ore  of  lead  offered  itself  on  the  surface,  and  in  such  quan- 
tities, that  in  Pliny's  time  (who  died  A.  D.  79),  there  was  a  law,  (as  in 
modern  times  with  respect  to  black  lead),  limiting  the  annual  produce. 
Many  of  the  works  that  we  suspect  to  have  been  Roman,  are  very  shal- 
low, in  form  of  trenches,  through  which  they  pursued  the  veins.  Af- 
terwards, they  went  as  deep  as  the  then  known  art  would  per- 
mit. "  We  descend  into  the  very  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  seek  riches 
even  in  the  seat  of  departed  spirits."  (Pliny).  We  find  that  great  fires 
were  used,  the  rock  intensely  heated,  and  cracks  formed,  by  the  sud- 
den infusion  of  water:  Pliny  says  of  vinegar.  The  stone  or  ore  was 
then  forced  out  by  the  wedge  or  pick-axe.  Miners  often  discover 
the  marks  of  fire  in  ancient  mines. 

A  little  wedge,  in  the  possession  of  Pennant,  was  discovered  in  a 
deep  fissure  of  Dalar  Goch  rock,  five  inches  and  a  quarter  long,  almost 
entirely  encrusted  with  lead  ore.  Pick-axes  of  an  uncommon  bulk, 
and  very  clumsy,  have  been  discovered  in  the  bottom  of  the  mineral 
trenches,  like  the  Fractaria,  which  the  Romans  used  in  the  gold  mines, 

*  They  were  Julius  Csesar. — Claudius. — Vespasian. — Titus. — Adrian. — Per- 
tinax. — Clodius  Albinus,  elected  in  Britain. — Severus,  who  died  at  York. — 
Caracalla. — Geta. — Maximian. — Carausius  and  Silvius,  co-emperors  of  Britain. — 
Allectus,  Emperor  of  Britain. — Constantius,  who  died  at  York. — Constantine 
the  Great,  proclaimed  at  York. — Constans. — Constantine  Junior. — Theodosius  the 
Great. — Maximus. — Marcus. — Gratian. — Constantine.  The  four  last  were  Em- 
perors of  Britain. 

HHH 


418 


TIN  MINES.— EXPORTATION  OF  TIN. 


CHAP,  in  Spain.  Buckets  of  singular  construction,  and  other  things  of  uses 
—-v-"*"^  unknown  at  present,  have  been  found  among  the  ancient  mines. 

The  labourers  worked  by  stems,  night  and  day,  by  the  light  of 
lamps :  they  drove  levels,  sunk  shafts,  propping  the  ground  as  they 
went  on,  and  pursued  the  veins  by  forming  drifts;  and,  finally,  they 
had  pumps  which  flung  up  the  water  from  the  greatest  depths. 

The  ore  was  cleansed  according  to  the  modern  method,  smelted  in 
a  furnace,  and  cast  into  forms  nearly  resembling  the  common  pigs  of 
lead.  One  has  been  dug  up  in  Hints  common,  in  Staffordshire, 
twenty-two  and  a  half  inches  long,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
weight,  marked  IMP.  x  VESP  x  VH  x  T  x  IMP.  x  V  x  COS. 
which  answers  to  the  year  75.  In  1731,  two  of  the  same  kind  were 
discovered  on  Hayshaw  moor,  near  Ripley,  in  Yorkshire,  cast  in  the 
year  87,  inscribed  Imperatore  Csesare  Domitiano,  &c.  and  the  word 
Brig,  signifying  that  it  came  from  the  country  of  the  Brigantes. 

Twenty  similar  pieces  were  found  near  Halton  in  Cheshire,  marked 
IMP  DOMIT  AUG.  C.  DE  CEANG.  &c.  some  of  them  certainly 
from  the  Cangi  of  Derbyshire.  A  mass  of  lead  was  found  near  Wokey 
Hole,  in  Somersetshire,  inscribed  to  Claudius,  about  the  year  50. 

The  Romans  appear  to  have  been  well  versed  in  metallurgy;  and 
to  have  had  regular  smelting  houses.  The  Britons,  before  their  con- 
quest by  the  Romans,  had  a  very  simple  but  effectual  process ;  for  the 
most  metal  that  can  now  be  procured  from  a  ton  of  their  slags,  is  but 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  *. 

The  Romans  formed,  in  the  tin  province,  camps  and  roads  still  visi- 
ble. Vases,  urns,  sepulchres,  and  coins,  exhibit  daily  proofs  of  their 
having  been  a  stationary  people  in  Cornwall  f.  The  tin  was  melted, 
purified,  cast  into  rows  of  cubes,  carried  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  (Ictis), 


*  Pennant's  Tour  in  Wales,  Vol.  I.  p.  61. 


f  Borlace,  Antiq.  p.  278. 


COPPER.— CALAMINE.—IRON.— BRITISH  COINS. 


419 


exported  to  Gaul,  and  carried  a  journey  of  thirty  days  upon  horses'  QHLgk 
backs,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rhone;  and  then  to  the  Massilians  (Mar-  «^»-v-**. 
seilles)  and  the  town  of  Narbonne.    With  the  tin  the  Romans  formed 
mirrors,  lined  their  brass  utensils,  made  pewter,  and,  by  the  combina- 
tion of  other  metals,  a  substance  which  imitated  silver. 

The  Romans  had  founderies  of  copper  in  Britain ;  a  mass,  in  shape 
like  a  cake  of  bees'  wax,  was  found  at  Conovium,  (Caer-hen,  four  miles 
above  Conway)  deeply  impressed  with  the  words  f  SOCIO  ROMiE," 
and  across  it  "  Natsol,"  weight,  forty-two  pounds. 

Remains  of  brass  founderies  are  discovered ;  which  prove  that  Ca- 
lamine, which  abounds  in  the  island,  was  known  to  the  Romans.  It 
was  imported  from  Sweden  before  Elizabeth's  reign,  when  mines  of  it 
were  again  discovered  in  the  Mendip  hills. 

Beds  of  iron  cinders,  the  reliques  of  the  Romans,  are  found  in  the 
forest  of  Dean ;  others  in  Monmouthshire ;  another  near  Miskin,  be- 
neath which  was  a  coin  of  Antoninus  Pius,  and  a  piece  of  earthen- 
ware ;  others  in  Yorkshire,  accompanied  with  coins.  The  beds  of  cin- 
ders are  supposed  to  be  almost  inexhaustible,  and  are  now  worked 
over  again;  they  yield  a  more  kindly  metal  than  the  ore. 

Gold  and  Silver  are  enumerated,  by  Strabo,  among  the  products  of 
Britain.  The  Britons  coined  gold  and  silver  before  the  arrival  of  the 
Romans.  There  are  coins  of  Cassivelaunus ;  and  thirty-nine  different 
ones,  of  Cunobeline,  whose  capital  was  Colchester.  This  British  king 
had  been  at  Rome.  After  their  acquaintance  with  the  Romans,  the 
Britons  engraved  letters,  elephants  and  gryphons,  on  their  coins.  Seve- 
ral rings,  instruments  of  sacrifice,  buttons,  forceps,  and  ornaments  of 
dress,  of  gold,  silver,  and  brass,  with  numerous  fragments  of  others, 
have  been  found  near  Flint*. 


*  See  Pennant's  Tour  in  Wales,  Vol.  I. 
HHH  2 


420  REVENUES.— CORN.— DOGS.— ARCHITECTS. 

C^HAP.  The  revenues  in  Britain  were  sufficient  to  support  those  generals 
\^»— y-**^  wft0  assumed  the  imperial  dignity,  without  any  other  income.  IfLip- 
sius's  calculation  be  just,  they  amounted  to  two  millions  sterling*.  The 
Emperor  Julian,  having,  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  built  eight  hun- 
dred small  vessels,  sent  them  to  Britain  for  corn  (A.  D.  361).  They 
returned  to  the  Rhine;  and  the  corn  was  sent  up  that  river  for  the 
winter  support,  and  for  sowing  their  lands  in  spring  f.  This  was  so 
often  repeated,  that  the  supply  was  abundant. 

The  route  from  Italy  to  Britain  was  up  the  Rhone,  as  far  as  it 
was  navigable :  thence,  over  land  to  the  Seine,  and  across  the  Channel. 
The  general  trade  from  the  continent  into  Britain  was  carried  on, 
chiefly,  from  the  mouths  of  the  Rhine,  Loire,  Garonne,  and  Seine; 
where  merchants  and  agents  resided.  Bull-dogs,  for  baiting  of  bulls, 
mastiffs,  and  beagles,  were  exported  to  Rome  J. 

Under  the  protection  of  the  Romans,  ninety-two  considerable  towns 
had  arisen  in  the  several  parts  of  Britain,  thirty-three  of  which  were 
distinguished,  above  the  rest,  by  superior  privileges  and  importance  §. 
Every  Roman  colony,  (of  which  there  were  nine),  and  free  city,  was 
a  little  Rome,  adorned  with  temples,  palaces,  halls,  basilicks,  baths,  and 
many  fine  buildings,  both  for  use  and  ornament.  This  magnificence 
charmed  and  engaged  the  conquered  to  imitate  the  pleasures  and  vices 
of  the  Romans.  The  Britons  became  such  excellent  architects  and 
artificers,  that  Constantius  sent  workmen  from  Britain  to  rebuild  Au- 
tunin  Gaul  || . 

*  Dr.  Henry,  Vol.  1.359.  f  Zosimus,  p.  70. 

J  Henry,  Vol.  II.  p.  224. — Oysters  were  exported  to  Italy. 

 He  (Montanus)  could  tell 

At  the  first  relish,  if  his  oysters  fed 

At  theRutupian  (Richborough)  or  the  Lucrine  bed. 

Juvenal,  Sat.  IV. 

§  Gibbon,  Vol.  III.  p.  275.  ||  Dr.  Henry,  Vol.  II.  p.  121. 


AMPHITHEATRES.— TEMPLES.— BATHS.  42 1 

Four  or  more  amphitheatres  are  still  discoverable.  Two  noble  ones 
at  Dorchester  and  Silchester.  A  good  one  at  Caerleon,  which  was  a 
splendid  and  considerable  place :  and  at  Richborough  a  Castrensian  am- 
phitheatre of  turf,  for  the  diversion  of  the  garrison.  There  must  also 
have  been  a  circus  or  amphitheatre  at  York.    (See  page  313). 

There  are  other  remains  of  buildings  in  various  parts,  that  probably- 
served  for  the  same  purpose  as  the  amphitheatres*. 

Two  large  baths  were  discovered  at  Chester ;  one  of  them  sup- 
ported by  thirty- two  pillars,  two  feet  ten  inches  high ;  the  other  more 
extensivef .  Chester  and  Colchester  furnish  very  numerous  Roman 
remains.  There  are  more  in  and  about  Colchester  than  any  where  in 
South  Britain.  Westward  of  the  town,  there  are  strong  intrench- 
ments,  the  supposed  remains  of  the  castra,  castella,  and  praesidia, 
formed  about  this  place,  according  to  Tacitus*.  The  tessellated 
pavements  are  generally  three  to  four  feet  under  the  surface.  A  large 
bath  was  discovered  at  Lincoln,  in  1740,  at  the  depth  of  thirteen  feet. 
The  very  numerous  and  beautiful  tessellated  pavements  found  all  over 
England,  attest  the  sumptuous  and  elegant  stile  in  which  the  Romans 
lived.  "  It  may  seem  strange  that  there  are  not  many  nobler  testimo- 
nies of  Roman  grandeur  to  be  seen  at  York;  no  ruins  of  temples,  am- 
phitheatres, palaces,  public  baths,  &c.  whose  edifices  must  have  made 
that  city  shine  as  bright  almost  as  Rome  itself.  The  wonder  will 
cease,  when  the  reader  sees,  in  the  sequel,  such  terrible  burnings 
devastations,  and  horrid  destruction  of  every  thing  sacred  or  pro- 
fane §. 

There  are  four  principal  Roman  ways  in  England.  I.  Watling- 
street  ||,  leading  from  Dover  to  London,  Dunstable,  Towcester,  At- 

*  See  Chap,  on  Amphitheatres.  f  Pennant's  Wales,  Vol.  T.  p.  115. 

+  Morant's  Essex.  §  Drake's  York,  p.  55. 

||  So  named  from  Vitellianus,  who  projected  it,  and  whose  name  was  pro- 


422 


FOUR  ROMAN  ROADS. 


CHAP,    terston,  and  the  Severn,  near  the  Wrekin  in  Shropshire,  and  extend- 
ing  as  far  as  Anglesea  in  Wales. 


II.  Ikeneld-street,  leading  from  Southampton,  over  the  river  Isis  at 
Newbridge,  thence  by  Campden  and  Litchfield,  then  passes  the  Der- 
went  near  Derby,  so  to  Bolsover  castle,  and  ends  at  Tinmouth. 

III.  One  called  Fosse-way,  (because  in  some  places  it  was  never 
perfected,  but  lies  as  a  large  ditch),  leads  from  Cornwall  through  De- 
vonshire, by  Tetbury  near  Stow  in  the  Wolds,  and  on  the  side  of  Co- 
ventry to  Leicester,  Newark,  and  so  to  Lincoln. 

IV.  Erminage-street,  stretches  from  St.  David's  in  West  Wales  to 
Southampton*. 

There  were  numerous  other  provincial  roads :  from  York,  in  parti- 
cular, there  was  a  road  to  Whitby,  another  to  Stockton,  one  to  Flambo- 
rough,  near  Bridlington  Bay,  one  to  Petuaria,  (by  South  Cave),  a  Ho- 
man  station ;  one  to  Aldborough,  (the  capital  of  the  Brigantes),  to 
Bernard-castle,  and  other  places  f . 


nounced  by  the  Britons  Gwetalin. — Camden,  Vol.  I.  p.  xlvii.  Many  Roman  mile- 
stones have  been  found  near  these  roads. 

*  Rees's  Cyclop.  "  Way."  f  Map  by  Bowen,  Geographer  to  the  King. 


423 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Remains  of  Elephants  and  Wild  Beasts,  found  in  England,  Scot- 
land, and  Ireland. 

In  Grays-inn  Lane,  London,  a  tusk  of  an  elephant,  at  the  depth  of  CHAP. 

.  XIV. 
twelve  feet,  m  gravel.  s^-y-** 

Note. — This  place  was  not  a  mile  from  Londinium.    Caesar's  in- 

trenchments  are  still  visible  at  the  bottom  of  this  lane,  and  the  place 

is  called  Battle  Bridge.  (Stukeley,  Itin.  Cur.  Vol.  II.  p.  5).  Caesar,  we 

have  seen,  had  at  least  one  large  elephant  when  he  crossed  the  Thames. 

*        #         *•  * 

"  In  1689,  in  a  gravel  pit,  not  far  from  the  sign  of  Sir  John  Old- 
castle,  Mr.  Conyers,  a  great  antiquary,  discovered  the  carcass  of  an 
elephant.  I  saw  part  of  it  dug  out,  and  what  remained  he  bought 
of  the  workmen.  This  he  was  of  opinion  had  not  lain  there 
ever  since  the  flood,  but  since  the  Romans;  for  in  the  time  of 
Claudius,  as  mentioned  by  the  learned  Selden  in  Drayton's  Polyolbion, 
near  this  place  a  battle  was  fought  between  the  Britons  and  Romans; 
for  in  the  same  pit  he  found  the  head  of  a  British  spear  made  of  flint." 
Selections  from  the  Gent's.  Mag.  Vol.  I.  p.  429. 


TEMPLE  OF  DIANA.— ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH. 

*  *  •*  * 

"  Dr.  Woodward,  (in  his  letter  to  Sir  Christopher  Wren),  ac- 
quaints us,  that  he  had  in  his  collection  tusks  of  boars,  horns  of  oxen 
and  of  stags,  as  also  the  representation  of  deer,  and  even  of  Diana  her- 
self, upon  the  sacrificing  vessels  dug  up  near  St.  Paul's  church,  and 
likewise  a  small  image  of  that  goddess,  found  at  no  great  distance. 
From  ancient  writers,  it  appears  that  not  only  stags,  but  oxen,  were 
sacrificed  to  Diana.  An  ancient  MS.  in  the  Cotton  library,  informs 
us,  that  in  the  time  of  Melitus,  the  first  bishop  of  London,  Ethelbert, 
king  of  Kent,  built  a  church  to  the  honour  of  St.  Paul,  on  the  site 
where  before  stood  a  temple  of  Diana :  and  there  were  also  certain  ce- 
remonies performed  at  this  church  on  the  day  of  St.  Paul's  conversion, 
by  the  multitude,  which  evidently  alluded  to  the  worship  of  Diana: 
and  manors  were  held  by  the  service  of  offering  a  doe,  or  buck  and 
doe,  at  the  high  altar  of  the  church,  on  the  above-mentioned  day.  A 
ceremony  of  this  kind  was  continued  to  the  time  of  queen  Elizabeth." 
Jortin's  Life  of  Erasmus,  Rees's  Encyc.  "  Diana." 

*  *        *  * 

At  Romford,  twelve  miles  east  from  London,  a  cart-load  of  elephants' 
and  rhinoceros's  bones  were  dug  up  in  a  field. 

Note. — This  was  the  Roman  military  station  of  Durolitum,  and  is 
on  the  Roman  highway.    Dr.  Stukeley. 

*  *        *  * 


424 


"  At  Ilford,  (seven  miles  east  of  London),  a  very  large  skeleton  of  a 


KEW.— HARWICH.— WALTON.  425 

mammoth,  or  elephant,  was  found  fourteen  feet  deep  in  tenacious  clay ;  yP' 
and  many  other  tusks  and  bones."    Morning  Herald,  May  7th,  1824. 

At  Kew,  seven  miles  west  of  London,  bones  of  the  elephant  and 
stag,  and  a  great  number  of  the  hippopotamus. 

Note. — It  may  be  observed  that  these  remains  are  found,  like  others, 
at  the  usual  distance  from  cities.  Romford  was  a  military  post.  The 
Emperor  Geta  resided  in  London  the  three  years  the  Emperors  Se- 
verus  and  Caracalla  were  living  at  York.  Severus  was  particularly  cu- 
rious in  procuring  foreign  animals.  (See  Chap.  XL)  Wild  beasts 
were  no  doubt  exhibited  for  private  gain  in  greater  numbers  by  the 
Romans  than  in  modern  times;  but  the  public  games  must  have  been 
exhibited  in  Britain  for  three  centuries. 

#        *         *  * 

At  Mersey  island,  Essex,  about  five  miles  from  Colchester,  an  entire 
skeleton  of  an  elephant  was  found.  Selections,  Gent.'s  Mag.  Vol.  II. 
p.  462. 

At  Harwich,  a  very  beautiful  fossil  turtle,  embedded  in  a  solid 
block  of  cement  stone.  Another  large  stone  of  about  five  hundred 
weight,  when  broken,  was  found  to  contain  nearly  the  whole  of  a  human 
skeleton.    See  Common  Sense  Newspaper,  No.  60. 

At  Walton,  five  miles  south  of  Harwich,  bones  of  the  elephant,  stag, 
hippopotamus,  rhinoceros,  and  Irish  fossil  elk*  have  been  found.  Par- 
kinson, Vol.  III.  p.  366. 

"  Ralph  of  Coggleshall  relates,  that  giants'  teeth  were  found  at  the 
Ness,  near  Harwich,  three  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago ;  so  large,  that 

*  Remarks  on  the  Irish  elk  will  be  seen  in  Ch.  XVIII. 
in 


426  BURTON.— BRIGHTON— SHOREHAM. 

CHAP,  they  would  make  two  hundred  teeth  of  the  present  species  of  men." 
Vs^-v-^  Camden,  Vol.  II.  p.  46. 

Note. — Harwich  is  the  port  loading  to  the  Roman  colony  of  Came- 
lodunum,  (distant  twelve  miles),  where  Claudius  encamped  with  three 
legions ;  and  which  place  became  a  Roman  city  of  the  first  importance. 
"  Cunobeline,  the  British  king,  who  resided  here,  had  visited  the  court 
of  Augustus  at  Rome :  thirty-nine  of  his  different  coins  of  gold,  silver, 
&c.  have  been  found.  Some  of  the  British  coins  have  elephants  on 
them."  See  Pennant's  Wales,  Vol.  I.  p.  69 ;  and  the  plate  of  coins  in 
Ch.  XIII.  Claudius  remained  but  sixteen  days  in  Britain ;  and  it  is 
not  probable  that  there  were  exhibitions  during  that  short  period.  He 
was,  however,  so  fond  of  the  combats  of  beasts  in  the  amphitheatres,  that 
he  would  pass  whole  days  at  those  amusements.  See  Suetonius,  Ch. 
XXXIV.  We  find  among  these  remains  at  Harwich  the  African  hip- 
popotamus, the  Irish  elk,  and  it  is  possible  that  the  elephant  or  rhino- 
ceros may  have  been  of  Asiatic  origin. 

*         *        *  * 

At  Burton,  Sussex,  in  the  park,  (1740),  at  the  depth  of  nine  feet, 
two  large  and  two  small  tusks,  a  thigh  bone,  knee-pan,  and  grinder, 
were  found.    Selections,  Gent.'s  Mag.  II.  460. 

*        #        *  * 

In  the  tunnel  under  Kemp-town,  Brighton,  bones  of  the  horse  and 
elephant.  A  rib,  supposed  to  be  of  an  elephant,  was  found  on  the 
bank  of  Shoreham  harbour.    Phil.  Mag.  December,  1824. 


*        *        *  * 


OXFORDSHIRE.— KENT.— OXWICH  BAY.  427 
At  Watlington  park,  Oxfordshire,  at  the  depth  of fifty  or  sixty  feet,  CHAP. 

X.1  V. 

were  found  many  whole  oaks,  one  upright,  and  one  upright  reversed,  "^^-^ 
hazel  nuts,  a  stag's  head  and  antlers,  sound,  not  discoloured ;  and  on  the 
same  spot,  two  Roman  urns.    Dr.  Plott's  Hist.  Oxf.  p.  161. 

*  *        *  # 

"  In  1668,  at  Chartham,  Kent,  at  the  depth  of  seventeen  feet,  a  par- 
cel of  monstrous  bones,  and  four  teeth,  were  dug  up,  which  agree  with 
a  late  description  of  the  grinders  of  the  elephant.  Some  are  of 
opinion  that  they  are  bones  of  elephants,  abundance  of  which  were 
brought  over  by  the  Emperor  Claudius,  who  landed  at  Sandwich," 
Hasted's  Kent,  III.  155. 

Note. — Chartham  is  on  the  road  to  London. 

*  #         *  # 

At  Bowden  Parva,  Northamptonshire,  two  tusks  of  an  elephant. 
Selections,  Gent.'s  Mag.  II.  462.    *    *  * 

At  Paviland,  near  Oxwich  bay,  South  Wales,  bones  of  the  rhinoce- 
ros, hyaena,  deer,  ox,  elephant,  bear,  wolf,  fox,  horse,  water  rat,  man, 
birds  and  modern  bones  of  sheep,  &c.    Professor  Buckland. 

Note. — At  Neath,  fourteen  miles  north-east,  there  is  a  Roman  en- 
campment of  great  extent,  and  several  small  intrenchments :  further 
on,  above  thirty  miles,  is  Caerleon,  where  there  was  a  Roman  amphithe- 
atre.— See  Rees's  Encyc.  "  Neath." 

*  *        *  * 

At  Chester,  were  found  marks  of  Roman  sacrifices,  heads,  horns,  &c. 

I  I  I  2 


428  RUGBY. — CORNWALL. — PLYMOUTH. 

CHAP,  of  the  ox,  roebuck,  &c. :  and  with  them  two  coins  of  Vespasian  and 
^--v-^y  Constantius. — Pennant's  Wales,  Vol.  I. 


At  Newnham,  near  Rugby,  three  tusks,  curved  outwards,  like  those 
of  Siberia,  and  other  elephants'  bones,  stags'  bones,  and  two  rhinoceros' 
skulls.  At  Lawford,  near  Rugby,  bones  of  a  hyaena,  elephant,  and  rhi- 
noceros. 

Note. — Newnham  is  one  mile  east  of  the  Roman  fosse  way,  and  five 
miles  west  of  the  Roman  highway.  Lawford  is  a  mile  and  a  half  east 
of  the  fosse  way,  and  five  and  a  half  west  of  the  highway:  and  not  a 
mile  to  the  south  of  Newnham  Regis.  "  Rugby  is  distant  about  three 
miles,  and  is  the  Tripontio  of  the  Romans." — See  Horsley,  Brit, 
Rom.  p.  436. 


"  A  farmer  at  Bossens,  in  the  parish  of  Erth,  at  the  depth  of 
eighteen  feet,  found  a  Roman  patera,  and,  six  feet  deeper,  a  jug;  and, 
digging  further,  they  found  another  patera  intermixed  with  sacrificial 
fragments  of  horns,  bones  of  several  sizes,  half  burnt  sticks,  and  frag- 
ments of  worn  out  shoes.  In  the  field  near,  there  are  remains  of  a 
fort,  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  feet  long,  one  hundred  and  thirty-six 
broad;  the  fosse,  outside,  is  still  discoverable." — Borlace's  Cornwall, 
p.  316. 

*         *         *  * 


At  Oreston,  near  Plymouth,  bones  of  bears,  rhinoceroses,  and  deer. 
All  this  quarry  had  been  worked  by  blasting  through  the  solid  rock : 
here  and  there  are  a  few  small  caverns  similar  to  that  where  the  bones 


MENDIP  HILLS.— BRISTOL.  429 

were  discovered ;  but  none  of  them  had  the  appearance  of  connection  CHffiK 
with  the  surface,  or  with  each  other. — Phil.  Trans.  1821,  p.  134.  ^^•v— «^ 
And  of  the  horse,  ox,  hyaena,  wolf,  deer,  and  tiger. — Professor  Buck- 
land,  Second  Edition,  p.  72. 

Note. — Plymouth  is  the  Tamari  Ostea  of  the  Romans,  whose  cus- 
tom it  was  to  blast  the  rocks  in  the  mines. — Pennant's  Wales,  I.  p.  55. 


At  Hutton,  Mendip  hills,  bones  of  horses,  stags,  oxen,  fox,  hog. 

At  Sandford,  deer,  elephant,  and  other  bones. 

Ten  miles  from  Bristol,  an  immensely  large  stag's  horn. 

A  gentleman  was  digging  upon  a  high  hill,  near  Mendip,  for  ochre 
and  ore:  at  the  depth  of  fifty-two  fathoms,  he  found  four  grinders  and 
two  thigh  bones  of  an  elephant,  well  preserved  in  a  bed  of  ochre. — 
Selections  from  Gent.'s  Mag.  II.  460,  &c. 

"  At  Banwell,  near  the  west  extremity  of  the  Mendip  hills,  some 
miners,  in  sinking  a  shaft  in  search  of  Calamine,  intersected  a  steep 
and  narrow  fissure,  which,  after  descending  eighty  feet,  opened  into 
a  spacious  cavern  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  thirty  wide,  and 
twenty  to  thirty  high.  From  the  difficulty  of  descending  by  this 
fissure,  it  was  judged  desirable  to  make  an  opening  in  the  side  of  the 
hill,  a  little  below,  in  a  line  which  might  lead  directly  into  the  interior 
of  the  cave.  This  gallery  had  been  conducted  but  a  few  feet,  when 
the  workmen  suddenly  penetrated  another  cavern  of  inferior  dimen- 
sions to  that  which  they  were  in  search  of,  and  found  its  floor  to  be 
covered,  (to  a  depth  which  has  not  yet  been  ascertained),  with  a  bed  of 
sand,  mud,  and  fragments  of  limestone,  through  which  were  dispersed 
an  enormous  quantity  of  bones,  horns,  and  teeth.  The  thickness  of 
this  mass  has  been  ascertained  in  one  place  to  be  nearly  forty  feet, 


130 


CALAMINE. 


€HAP,  chiefly  of  the  ox,  and  deer  tribes:  of  the  latter,  there  are  several  varie- 
XIV.  J 

-rfS-v-«w'  ties,  including  the  elk,  a  few  portions  of  the  skeleton  of  a  wolf,  and  of 
a  gigantic  bear. 


The  bones  are  in  a  state  of  preservation  equal  to  that  of  common 
grave  bones;  although  it  is  clear,  from  the  fact  of  some  of  them 
belonging  to  the  great  extinct  bear  species,  that  they  are  of  antedilu- 
vian origin  *.  In  the  roof  of  the  cave,  there  is  a  large  chimney-like 
opening,  which  appears  to  have  communicated  formerly  with  the  sur- 
face, but  which  is  choked  up  with  fragments  of  limestone,  interspers- 
ed with  mud  and  sand,  and  adhering  together  imperfectly  by  a  sta- 
lagmitic  incrustation.  Through  this  aperture  it  is  probable  the  ani- 
mals fell  into  the  cave  and  perished,  in  the  period  preceding  the  inun- 
dation by  which  it  was  filled  up.  In  this  manner  cattle  are  continually 
lost  by  falling  into  similar  apertures  in  the  limestone  hills  of  Derby- 
shire. There  is  nothing  to  induce  a  belief  that  it  was  a  den  inhabited 
by  hyaenas,  like  the  cave  at  Kirkdale,  or  by  bears,  like  those  in  Ger- 
many :  its  leading  circumstances  are  similar  to  those  of  the  ossiferous 
cavities  in  the  limestone  rock  at  Oreston,  near  Plymouth." — Phil.  Mag. 
December,  1824. 

Note.— A  Roman  road  runs  through  Bomium  ( Axbridge)  to  Bristol. 
(Horsley,  p.  464).  Of  the  fore-mentioned  places,  Hutton  is  within  six 
miles,  Sandford  within  one,  and  Banwell  within  two  and  a  half  miles 
of  the  Roman  Road.  This  last-mentioned  collection  at  Banwell,  is 
probably  in  a  Roman  mine.  "  Calamine,"  says  Pennant,  "  the  Cadmia 
of  Pliny,  (Lib.  XXXIV.  Ch.  X.),  and  the  stone  Cadmia  of  Strabo, 
abounds  in  the  mineral  part  of  this  island.  The  Romans  knew  its  uses 
in  the  making  of  brass ;  therefore  they  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  over- 


*  See  the  remarks  on  animals  deemed  extinct,  Ch.  XVIII.  The  Romans  had 
Numidian  bears;  which  are  probably  not  known  by  the  moderns.  See  Herodotus, 
Melpomene  CXCI.  and  note  188. 


A  CAVE  OF  FOSSIL  BONES. 

looked  so  necessary  an  ingredient.  The  remains  of  the  brass  founde- 
ries  discovered  in  our  kingdom,  shew  that  they  were  acquainted  with 
it.  The  knowledge  of  this  mineral,  in  after  ages,  was  long  lost.  Be- 
fore the  reign  of  Elizabeth  much  was  imported  from  Sweden,  but  at 
that  period  it  was  discovered  again  in  the  Mendip  hills  ;  and,  fortu- 
nately, at  the  same  time  that  the  working  of  the  copper  mines  in 
Cumberland  was  renewed.  Our  country  abounds  with  it ;  but,  till 
within  these  sixty  years,  we  were  so  ignorant  of  its  value,  as  to  mend 
our  roads  with  it." — Tour  in  Wales,  Vol.  I.  p.  66. 

From  a  consideration  of  the  foregoing  circumstances,  the  writer's 
conjecture  is,  that  the  cave  of  bones  was  an  exhausted  portion  of  the 
mine,  converted  into  an  ossuary,  by  the  miners,  for  the  remains  of  the 
oxen  and  deer  which  they  fed  on.  It  is  also  probable,  that  a  military 
guard  was  stationed  at  the  mines.  It  will  naturally  be  asked,  why 
they  should  so  carefully  throw  the  bones  into  so  secret  and  secure  a 
place  ?  to  which  it  may  be  replied,  that  these  bones  might  attract  the 
wolves,  and  endanger  their  lives;  they  thus  prevented  that  risk. 
Every  English  reader  knows,  that  king  Edgar  commuted  the  punish- 
ment for  crimes,  into  the  acceptance  of  a  certain  number  of  wolves' 
tongues,  from  each  criminal.  In  Wales,  the  taxes  of  gold  and  silver 
were  converted  into  a  tribute  of  wolves'  heads. 

In  after  times,  rewards  were  offered,  and  lands  were  held  on  condition 
of  destroying  the  wolves. 

#        *        *  * 

"  In  my  last  I  told  you  that  my  lord  of  Cherbury  was  appointed  by 
his  Majesty  to  make  inquiry  touching  the  bones  found  near  Glou- 
cester. His  lordship  shewed  me  the  bones  he  had  collected,  which 
were  a  huckle  bone,  part  of  the  shoulder  blade,  some  parts  of  a  tooth, 


432 


GLOUCESTER  ELEPHANT. — SACRIFICE. 


^XIV*  anC*  ^"^Se  °f  ^e  nose,  all  of  a  huge  bigness  ;  but  his  lordship's 
«**-v-*w'  opinion  was,  that  they  were  not  the  bones  of  a  man,  but  of  an  elephant, 
because  Claudius,  who  brought  elephants  into  Britain,  did  build  that 
city,  for  which  he  voucheth  Ponticus  Verunticus  de  rebus  Britan- 
nicis,  who  saith,  the  ancient  name  of  the  city  was  Claudicestria ;  and 
Mr.  Camden,  as  you  rightly  observe,  saith,  that  the  Romans  had  a 
colony  thereabout. 


His  lordship  told  me,  that  these  bones  were  found  mingled  with 
those  of  oxen,  sheep,  and  hogs,  and  he  shewed  me  the  tusk  of  a  boar 
found  amongst  them.  There  was  a  great  square  stone  lying  by  them, 
which  we  conceived  might  be  the  upper  stone  of  an  altar,  and  that 
the  bones  were  the  relics  of  some  great  sacrifice  celebrated  there. 

The  bridge  of  the  nose  was  what  confirmed  his  lordship's,  and  my 
opinion,  that  it  could  not  be  that  of  a  man,  for  it  did  rather  seem  to  be 
a  bone  very  apt  to  bear  up  the  long  snout  of  an  elephant.  His  lord- 
ship further  told  me,  that  Dr.  Harvey,  a  great  anatomist,  opined,  that 
they  were  the  bones  of  some  great  beast,  as  an  elephant.  Dr.  Clayton, 
his  Majesty's  professor  of  physic  at  Oxford  was  of  the  same  opinion. 
One  of  the  teeth  of  this  pretended  giant,  by  the  special  favour  of  my 
lord  of  Gloucester,  I  had  the  happiness  to  see ;  which  I  found  to  be  of 
a  stony  substance,  both  for  hardness  and  weight;  and  it  should  seem, 
by  his  lordship's  letter  to  me,  that  he  himself  was  not  confident  that  it 
was  the  tooth  of  a  man. — Bishop  Hakewill's  Apology,  p.  228. 

Note. — We  must  not  wonder  at  an  Ostiack,and  a  Swede  or  a  German, 
confounding  narwals,  elephants,  walruses,  and  whales,  by  the  same 
name  of  mammoth,  their  languages  are  imperfectly  known  to  each 
other. —  Vide  Strahlenberg,  p.  404. 


# 


*  * 


KIRKDALE  IN  YORKSHIRE. 

In  Dublin,  A.  D.  1681,  an  elephant  was  accidentally  burnt  to  death. 
—Phil.  Trans.  No.  326. 

At  Magherry,  near  Belturbet,  in  the  county  of  Cavan,  four  fossil 
grinders  of  an  elephant  were  found. 

Note. — It  is  not  improbable  that  these  teeth  may  have  belonged  to 
an  exhibited  elephant :  nor  is  it  impossible  that  they  should  be  of  Ro- 
man origin.  Ptolemy  has  given  a  better  map  of  Ireland  than  of  Scot- 
land :  and  the  Romans  had  garrisons  and  settlements  on  the  coast  of 
Britain  opposite  to  Ireland  for  upwards  of  three  hundred  years. 

*        *        *  * 

At  Kirkdale,  in  Yorkshire,  in  a  cave,  were  found  remains  of  the  ele- 
phant, rhinoceros,  hippopotamus,  hyaena,  bear,  tiger,  wolf,  deer,  ox, 
rabbit,  water-rat,  mouse,  and  birds.  (For  a  particular  description  of 
the  cave,  and  of  the  remains  of  the  animals,  the  reader  is  referred  to 
Professor  Buckland's  volume.) 

Note. — Kirkdale  is  about  twenty-three  miles  north  of  York,  or  Ebo- 
racum,  which  was  the  Roman  capital  of  Britain  for  above  three  hun- 
dred years  :  and  the  head  quarters  of  the  Roman  Empire  for  more  than 
three  years. 

The  bones  which  have  been  found  at  Kirkdale,  correspond  accurate- 
ly with  the  beasts  killed  in  the  amphitheatres  in  Italy.  Tigers 
are  rarely  noticed ;  and  it  is  very  worthy  of  remark,  that  Severus  had 
tigers. — See  Dion  Cassius,  "  Severus."  He  also  had  foreign  bulls. 
The  skull  of  a  bull  (fossil)  found  in  England,  supposed  to  be  of  an  ex- 
tinct species,  is  in  the  museum  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons.  We 
find  in  the  Augustan  History,  that  when  Didius  Julianus  was  in- 
formed that  Severus  had  commenced  his  march,  nothing  was  to  be 
seen  at  Rome  bat  elephants,  horses,  and  troops,  training  for  service. 

KKK 


433 


434 


KIRKDALE. 


CHAP.  In  Spartian's  life  of  Severus,  we  read,  that,  when  he  was  in  Egypt,  he 
^~y-^>  was  much  pleased  with  his  voyage,  because  of  the  singular  strangeness 
of  the  animals  and  places  which  he  saw ;  therefore,  nothing  is  more 
probable  than  that  he  possessed  hippopotami,  rhinoceroses,  crocodiles, 
and  hyaenas ;  all  of  which  are  natives  of  Egypt,  and  have  been  found 
at  Kirkdale  and  Whitby,  in  a  fossil  state. 


It  has  been  conjectured,  from  the  appearance  of  the  bones,  that  the 
animals  had  met  with  a  violent  death.  Severus  died  at  York,  and 
one  of  the  signs  fore-running  his  death  was  that  a  figure  of  Victory, 
upon  a  platform  near  the  Emperor's  throne,  was  blown  down  while 
the  games  of  the  circus  were  celebrating  *.  The  description  of  the  val- 
ley corresponds  exactly  with  what  the  Romans  would  select  for  such 
an  occasion :  and  particularly  for  the  display  of  the  hippopotamus  in 
his  own  element  f . 

It  can  scarcely  be  doubted  that  such  spectacles  were  common  at 
the  chief  city,  when  we  find  the  ruins  of  several  amphitheatres  visi- 
ble at  this  day,  in  Britain. 

When  three  Emperors  were  in  the  island,  as  might  be  expected, 
some  of  the  animals  were  of  rare  occurrence,  the  tiger  in  particular. 

It  may  be  observed  that  the  bones  of  hippopotami  have  been  found 
at  Harwich,  Kew,  and  Kirkdale,  all  in  the  environs,  (as  is  usual),  of 
the  three  principal  Roman  cities.  In  this  collection  of  bones  the 
tiger  is  Asiatic,  the  hippopotamus  is  African,  and  the  small  animals 
are,  we  may  presume,  European. 

There  are  still  remaining  in  Pickering  moor,  some  small  Roman 

*  Spartian,  Life  of  Sev.    See  also  Ch.  XIII.  in  this  Vol. 

f  "  Some  amphitheatres  were  little  more  than  natural  vallies  with  benches  cut 
in  the  surrounding  hills."  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Amphitheatre."  There  is  a  valley  si- 
milar to  this  at  Kirkdale,  in  the  Val.  d'Arno,  near  which  fossil  bones  of  the  same 
kinds  of  beasts  have  been  found. 


WHITBY. — BRIDLINGTON. — NORFOLK. — ESSEX.  435 

camps,  drawings  of  which  may  be  seen  in  Roy's  Military  Antiquities.—  c^^>- 
(See  also  Drake's  York,  p.  36) .  There  are  the  remains  of  a  Roman  forti- 
fication  at  old  Malton  *,  and  of  Roman  quarries,  near  Malton.— (Drake, 
p.  56.) 

York  was  surrounded  by  other  Roman  towns.  Caturactonium, 
(now  Thornborough),  is  full  of  Roman  vestiges.  Maglove(Gretabridge), 
Magi,  (Piercebridge),  and  Derventione,  on  the  Derwent,  were  all  sta- 
tions of  prefects  of  detachments. — (See  Horsley  and  Camden).  At 
York  itself,  there  was  always  a  considerable  military  force.  The 
sixth  legion  was  at  that  station  three  hundred  years. — (Drake,  p.  8). 

l&bf^  •    .       *  *  * 

At  Robin  Hood's  bay  near  Whitby;  at  Scarborough;  at  Bridling- 
ton; remains  of  elephants. — Quarterly  Review,  LVI I. 

Note. — There  is  a  Roman  road  to  Whitby,  (Dunus  Sinus) :  also  to 
Flamborough,  through  Bridlington ;  which  last  is  named,  by  the  Ro- 
mans, Gabrantovicorum  Portus ;  they  name  the  bay  Sinus  Salutaris, 
a  reputation  which  it  still  enjoys. — See  the  map  in  Ptolemy's  Geogra- 
phy. 


In  the  interior  of  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and  Essex,  remains  of  elephants. 
Quarterly  Review,  LVII.  p.  152. 

Note. — Colchester,  (Camelodunum),  was  the  capital  of  the  most 
powerful  British  king.  Norwich  was  the  capital,  (Venta  Icenorum,  or 
Caster),  of  the  unfortunate  heroine,  Boadicea.    After  their  connection 

*  Malton  is,  in  Ptolemy's  map, named  Camelodunum;  which  probably  caused 
the  erroneous  assertion  of  some  authors  that  Maldon  in  Essex  was  the  other  Camelo- 
dunum, instead  of  Colchester. 


KKK2 


DORCHESTER. — BATH. — SCOTLAND. 

with  the  Romans,  the  Britons  put  elephants  on  their  coins. — Pen- 
nant's Wales,  Vol.  i.  p,  69.— See  Plate  of  coins  in  Ch.  XIII. 

^  £fc 

Remains  of  elephants  have  been  found  at  Dorchester,  Lyme  Regis, 
Charmouth,  Whitchurch  near  Dorchester;  at  Burton  and  Loders, 
near  Bridport. — Quarterly  Review,  LVII. 

Note. — At  Dorchester,  there  was  an  amphitheatre ;  all  these  places, 
are  within  twenty  miles  of  the  amphitheatre. 

#         *        *  # 

At  Box  and  Newton,  near  Bath,  were  found  elephants'  remains. 
In  all  these  cases  they  are  found  in  the  superficial  diluvial  detritus, 
consisting  of  either  gravel,  sand,  loam,  or  clay,  and  are  never  em- 
bedded in  any  of  the  regular  strata. — Quarterly  Review,  LVII.  These 
extracts  are  quoted  from  Professor  Buekland's  work ;  the  arguments 
concerning  them,  which  are  noticed  in  Chapter  XVIII.  of  this 
volume,  are  by  the  reviewer. 

Note. — Bath  was  a  celebrated  Roman  resort  for  its  waters.  The  Bri- 
tish Emperor,  Carausius,  accompanied  by  his  empress,  and  his  son, 
gained  a  battle  near  Bath  over  the  Ceangi. — See  Ch.  XIII. 

*        *        *  * 

"  A  horn  of  the  fossil  rhinoceros  was  found  in  a  marl  pit  at  the  loch  of 
Forfar,  and  is  in  the  Edinburgh  Museum. 

"  Two  horns  of  the  rhinoceros,  we  have  been  informed  by  Professor 
Jameson,  have  occurred  in  Blair  Drummond  Moss,  on  the  banks  of 


436 


SCOTLAND. 


437 


the  Forth.    Two  tusks,  and  some  small  bones  of  an  elephant  were  CHAP. 

XIV. 

found  at  Greenhill  sandstone  quarry,  near  the  water  of  Carmel,  in  the  ^*-v-^». 
parish  of  Kilmaurs,  Ayrshire,  in  1817,  embedded  in  clay,  at  the  depth 
of  seventeen  feet  and  a  half. 

On  the  west  of  Clifton  hall,  in  the  county  of  Edinburgh,  in  1820, 
a  large  tusk  was  found  in  a  thick  bed  of  clay,  seventeen  feet  below  the 
surface.  At  no  great  distance,  the  workmen,  in  excavating  the  canal, 
on  the  estate  of  Bonnington,  found  a  copper  battle  axe,  four  feet  deep, 
in  a  bed  of  clay,  covered  with  seven  feet  of  sand,  and  nine  of  moss. 

(The  accuracy  of  the  statement  referred  to  in  the  text  is  question- 
ed by  the  Editor  of  the  magazine). 

"  The  bones  of  the  extinct  elephant,  rhinoceros,  and  cave  bear,  are 
found  in  company  with  those  of  the  common  bear,  the  wolf,  the  fox,  and 
the  horse." — Remarks  on  the  influence  of  society,  on  the  distribution 
of  British  animals,  by  the  Rev.  J.  Fleming,  D.D.  F.R.S.  &c. 

Note. — The  scene  of  Agricola's  fame  was  Forfarshire.  The  forts  of 
Agiicola,  and  the  rampart  of  Antoninus,  built  by  Urbicus,  were  on  the 
very  road  where  some  of  these  remains  were  found,  and  as  they  were  gar- 
risoned for  a  great  length  of  years,  it  is  fair  to  presume,  that  they  were 
supplied  like  other  Roman  stations,  with  the  usual  amusements.  The 
mention  of  such  trivial  circumstances,  as  wild  beasts  accompanying 
the  armies  and  camps,  was  beneath  the  dignity  of  such  historians  as 
have  been  preserved  to  the  present  time.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
no  collections  of  bones,  of  a  variety  of  foreign  animals,  have  been  dis- 
covered, (as  far  as  the  writer  is  informed),  either  in  Scotland  or  Ire- 
land, where  the  Romans  did  not  permanently  dwell.  It  is  not  at  all 
improbable  that  some  animals  may  have  been  exhibited  in  Caledonia. 


438  FOSSIL  CROCODILES. 

CHAP.  The  writer  does  not  remember  to  have  seen  in  any  geological 
^*-v-*^  remarks  on  fossil  bones,  that  they  have  ever  been  referred  to  the 
ordinary  occurrences  of  society.  Louis  IX.  sent  to  Henry  III.  King 
of  England,  an  elephant  which  was  kept  in  the  Tower.  (Pennant's  Zoo- 
logy). Six  centuries  might  place  the  remains  of  this  animal  in  a  posi- 
tion to  subject  it  to  the  suspicion  of  an  antediluvian  origin;  or  of  an 
extinct  species,  if  from  the  north  of  Asia,  or  from  Egypt.  Many 
other  remains  have  been  found  in  Britain,  but  the  foregoing  appear  to 
be  the  principal  collections  of  bones.  (See  Professor  Buckland's  "  Reli- 
quice  Diluviance."  Where  the  reader  will  find  a  very  full  description 
of  the  fossil  bones,  and  of  the  places  in  which  they  have  been  found. 

■Jfc  3fc  ^ 

Some  fossil  crocodiles  have  been  found  in  England.  A  fossil  croco- 
dile in  the  Alum-shale,  near  Whitby,  upwards  of  fourteen  feet  long, 
and  when  perfect  must  have  been  eighteen ;  and  other  remains  of  cro- 
codiles have  been  found  near  Whitby:  also  three  or  four  species  of 
icthyosaurus  in  the  Alum-shale  of  Whitby. — Zoological  Journal,  April 
1825,  p.  141. 

Mr.  Kingdom  mentions  bones  of  a  very  large  size,  appearing  to  be- 
long to  a  whale  and  a  crocodile,  being  found  completely  embedded  in 
the  Oolite  quarries  a  mile  from  Chipping  Norton,  near  Chapel-house. 
— Zool.  Journal,  July  1825,  p.  284.  The  coasts  of  Yorkshire  and  Dor- 
setshire, Bath,  and  Newark  in  Nottinghamshire,  are  places  where  they 
have  chiefly  been  found. — See  Parkinson,  Letters XVIII.  and  XIX. 

There  is  in  the  possession  of  Linkius  a  large  fossil  crocodile  almost 
entire,  which  was  found  in  the  side  of  a  large  mountain  in  the  midland 
part  of  Germany,  and  in  a  stratum  of  black  fossil  stone,  somewhat  like 
our  common  slate,  but  of  a  coarser  texture,  the  same  with  that  in 


FOSSIL  CROCODILES.  439 

which  the  fossil  fish  in  many  parts  of  the  world  are  found. — Rees's  CHAP. 

J  XIV. 
Cyc.  "  Crocodile."  <***~y—s 

Note. — We  find  in  Dion  Cassius,  B.  LV.  that  Augustus  amused  the 
people  with  the  hunting  and  killing  of  thirty-six  crocodiles  in  one  day. 
There  can  be  no  good  reason  why  these  animals,  when  grown,  should 
not  bear  the  climate  of  England  for  six  months  of  the  year  at  least. 
It  is  near  eighteen  centuries  since  Claudius  arrived  in  Britain,  and  four 
thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  years  since  the  period  gene- 
rally assigned  to  the  delugee  have  any  of  these  animals,  in  a  fossil  state, 
been  discovered  in  situations  where  natural  accidents  may  not  have 
placed  them  in  seventeen  centuries? 

The  writer  of  these  notes  is  not  suflicienty  acquainted  with  geology 
to  offer  an  opinion  on  that  subject.  It  must  be  recollected,  with  regard 
to  the  crocodile,  icthyosaurus,  and  other  animals,  that  Egypt  belonged 
to  the  Romans,  during  the  whole  period  of  their  possession  of  England. 
If  crocodiles  were  once  natural  to  England,  would  their  remains  not  be 
found  also  in  Scotland  and  Ireland?  Have  any  been  found  in  those 
parts  ?  I  believe  not :  nor  any  collections  of  bones.  If  so,  is  it  not  a 
strong  argument  against  a  former  hot  climate?  The  remains  of  the 
crocodiles  in  England,  have  been  found  in  such  places  as  may  justly 
make  us  suspect  them  to  have  been  brought  by  the  Romans. 


440 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Description  of  the  living  Asiatic  and  African  Elephants,  which 
are  noticed  by  Naturalists.  List  of  Countries  in  which  Ele- 
phants and  other  Wild  Beasts  are  found.  Tusks  of  fifteen 

thousand  Elephants  imported  into  Great  Britain  in  eleven 
years. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  ELEPHANT. 

CHAP.  A  FULL  grown  elephant  has,  generally,  eight  grinders.  They  are 
^-^^j  composed  of  vertical  plates,  of  a  bony  substance,  enveloped  in  enamel, 
and  joined  together  by  a  third  substance,  called  cortical. 

The  grinders  succeed  or  replace  each  other,  not  from  beneath,  as 
our  second  grinders  succeed  to  our  first,  but  from  behind;  so  that  in 
proportion  as  a  tooth  is  worn  away,  it  is  pushed  forward  by  that  which 
comes  after  it.  Thus  the  elephant  has  sometimes  one,  sometimes  two 
grinders  on  each  side ;  four  or  eight  in  all,  according  to  the  period. 

It  is  said  that  some  elephants  thus  change  their  grinders  eight 
times. 

They  shed  their  tusks  only  once,  while  under  a  year  old. 

Only  two  species  of  elephants  have  been  recognized. 

I.  The  Indian  elephant  has  an  oblong  head,  a  concave  forehead,  and 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  ELEPHANT.  44 

the  crowns  of  its  grinders  present  undulating  ribbons,  which  are  parts  CHAP. 

XV 

of  the  plates  which  compose  them,  worn  by  trituration.    The  females  v^-^-^ 
have  only  short  tusks.    The  males,  of  the  kind  called  Mookna,  resem- 
ble females  in  this  respect.    The  perfect  Asiatic  elephant  has  five  nails 
upon  the  fore  feet,  and  four  upon  the  hind  feet. 

II.  The  African  elephant  has  a  round  head,  a  convex  forehead,  and 
grinders  presenting  lozenges  on  their  crowns.  The  tusks  of  the  fe- 
males are  as  large  as  those  of  the  males*.  They  are  found  from  Se- 
negal to  the  Cape.  There  are  females  on  the  east  coast,  according  to 
Ludolph  and  Bruce,  with  small  tusks;  and  Le  Vaillant  speaks  of  a 
race  of  elephants,  (in  his  second  travels  at  the  Cape),  which  never  have 
tusks,  and  the  head  of  which  is  less  elongated  than  the  other  sorts. 
The  African  elephant  has  four  fore-nails,  and  three  upon  the  hind 
feetf. 

The  elephant,  when  full  grown,  is  about  ten  feet  high  at  the  shoul- 
der. There  is,  however,  good  reason  to  suppose  that  the  elephants  of 
some  countries  attain  to  a  considerably  greater  height.  The  writer 
of  this  Volume  has  seen  great  numbers  of  Bengal  elephants :  the  tall- 
est was  ten  feet  eight  inches  \ :  it  was  of  the  Mergee  or  long-legged 
description :  the  tusks  were  of  a  very  moderate  size  ;  and  the  animal  did 
not  appear  aged.  It  was  caught,  with  thirty-six  others,  in  the  Cas- 
simpore  woods,  in  the  province  of  Dacca,  Bengal.  "  The  Nabob  of 
Dacca  had  one  ten  feet  high ;  and  the  Nabob  of  Oude  possessed  one 
which  measured  correctly  ten  feet  six  inches  §." 

*  The  female,  seventeen  years  in  the  menagerie  of  Louis  XIV.  the  skeleton  of 
which  is  in  the  museum  at  Paris,  has  larger  tusks  than  any  we  have  known  of  an 
Indian  male  or  female  of  the  same  height. — Cuvier. 

t  Cuvier;  Corse;  Rees's  Cyc;  Bowdich  ;  Phil.  Trans.  No.  326. 

%  It  must  be  added,  that  this  is  given  from  memory;  but  he  is  certain  that  it 
was  the  tallest  elephant  which  he  had  ever  seen. 

§  Hamilton's  Gazetteer,  p.  821 . 

LLL 


442  WEIGHT,  LENGTH,  AND  CURVATURE  OF  TUSKS. 


CHAP. 
XV. 


OF  THE  TUSKS. 


Elephants  shed  their  milk  tusks  the  first  or  second  year,  when 
they  are  about  two  inches  in  length,  but  are  not  known  to  shed  the 
second  tusks. 

Tusks  are  related  to  have  been  of  the  extraordinary  weight  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  a  single  one :  and  many  have  been  known 
of  two  hundred  pounds  weight  *. 

"  The  tusk  is,  in  its  alveolus,  like  a  nail  driven  into  a  plank ;  no- 
thing retains  it  there  except  the  elasticity  of  the  parts  which  inclose 
it.  We  may  change  the  direction  of  the  tusks  by  gentle  pressure. 
The  tusks  of  an  elephant  were  brought  so  close  together  as  to  con- 
strain the  motion  of  its  proboscis :  we  separated  them  by  means  of  a 
bar  of  iron,  the  middle  of  which  was  in  the  form  of  a  vice  f ." 

The  degree  of  curvature  of  the  tusks  varies  almost  as  much  as  the 
size  of  elephants.  There  is  now  in  the  museum  of  the  Royal  Col- 
lege of  Surgeons,  "  a  spiral  or  wreathed  tusk,  presented  from  the 
Royal  African  Company  by  Thomas  Crisp,  Esq.  It  is  about  an  ell 
long:  at  the  base  a  foot  in  circumference,  from  the  thin  edges  whereof 
it  is  conically  hollow  for  near  half  a  yard.  It  is  furrowed  lengthways; 
the  furrows  do  not  surround  it,  as  in  the  sea  unicorn,  but  are  parallel. 
"This  tusk  is  not  round,  but  somewhat  flat  J." 

*  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Ivory."  Mr.  Adams  saw  a  tusk  of  a  mammoth  at  Jakutsk 
«  de  la  longuer  de  deux  toises  et  demi  (fifteen  French  feet) ;  et  qui  avoit  l'epais- 
seur  d'une  archine  (twenty-eight  inches  English)  pres  de  laracine:  elle  pesoit 
sept  pouds,"  (two  hundred  and  fifty-two  pounds  English).  This,  from  its  length, 
is  a  most  rare  and  inestimable  specimen,  and  perhaps  the  greatest  curiosity  of  its 
kind  in  the  world. 

f  Cuvier.  %  Nehemiah  Grew,  p.  31.    A.  D.  1681  See  Plate,  page  295. 


DIFFERENT  KINDS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 

"  Cuvier  knows,  from  Mr.  Fabroni,  that  there  is  one  of  the  same 
description  in  the  Florence  gallery*."  Grew  says,  he  will  not  deter- 
mine whether  the  tusk  has  been  naturally  twisted,  or  by  art,  having 
read,  that  they  may  be  reduced  to  any  shape  by  firef . 

In  the  museum  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  there  is  a  tusk, 
smaller  than  Grew's,  similar  in  shape :  both  of  them  are  corroded,  as  if 
by  disease.  There  is  a  pair  of  tusks  in  the  same  museum,  slender, 
and  very  near  a  circle  in  form,  between  four  and  five  feet  in  length. 
See  the  Plate,  page  295. 

"  Les  defenses  ne  peuvent  etablir  de  caractere  certain,  ni  entre  les 
especes  vivantes,  ni  entre  celle  ci  et  l'espece  fossile 

#        #        *  * 

In  the  province  of  Tipera,  there  are  three  kinds  of  elephants. 

I.  The  Koomareah,  called  Dauntelah  or  large  tusked.  It  is  full 
bodied,  short  legged,  strong,  and  large. 

II.  The  Mergee,  long  legged,  tall,  and  weak,  with  a  thin  proboscis, 
the  tusks  not  so  long  as  the  first  kind.  From  these  two  breeds  indis- 
tinct varieties  are  produced. 

III.  The  Mookna,  whose  tusks  are  quite  small,  and  always  point 
downwards,  like  those  of  the  walrus. 

The  females  in  general,  of  each  kind,  have  the  tusks  so  small  as  to 
be  nearly  hidden  by  the  flesh  of  the  trunk :  but  some  females  have 
tusks  almost  as  large  and  long  as  the  male  Mookna. 

Elephants  couple  like  other  quadrupeds,  and  go  with  young  about 
twenty-two  months.    They  breed  in  their  tamed  state  §.  Formerly 

*  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Ivory."  f  Vide  Pausanias,  (Taylor's  Edit.),  Vol.  II.  p.  33. 
|  Cuvier,  Vol.  IV.  p.  176. 

§  Corse,  Phil.  Trans.  "  Elephants  couple  as  the  cow,  or  mare,  and  carry 
their  young  eighteen  months."    Arrian's  Indian  Hist.  Ch,  XIV. 

LLL  2 


443 


CHAP. 
XV. 


444  ELEPHANTS  BEAR  EXTREME  COLD. — YOUNG  ELEPHANTS. 

CHAP,    it  was  thought  unlucky  to  allow  elephants  to  breed,  but  the  Emperor 
^-y^j  Akbar  surmounted  that  scruple.    The  elephant  lives  about  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  years*. 

The  writer  saw  an  elephant  in  Bengal,  when  it  was  only  eighteen 
hours  old:  it  was  about  thirty-three  inches  high,  weak  and  tottering, 
but  very  playful;  twisting  in  its  proboscis  a  few  blades  of  large  grass f. 
It  sucked  with  the  mouth,  not  with  the  proboscis. 

Elephants  swim  well.  Mountain  elephants  are  the  largest  and 
most  courageous.  They  will  easily  carry  three  or  four  thousand 
pounds  weight,  and  will  on  occasion  go  as  far  in  one  day  as  usually 
requires  six  J. 

The  elephants  of  Cochin  China,  and  their  tusks,  are  larger  than 
those  of  Mosambique  §. 

Elephants  bear  cold  that  kills  men  and  horses ;  we  have  seen  in  these 
notes,  about  thirty  of  these  noble  beasts  encamped  upon  the  ice  with 
Hannibal  upon  the  Little  Saint  Bernard ;  and  five  hundred  of  them 
supporting  the  rigour  of  winter  in  the  wars  of  the  Emperor  Ma- 
mood  (A.  D.  1007)  against  the  king  of  Cashgar,  when  men  and  horses 
perished  by  excessive  cold. 

The  elephants  that  have  been  dissected  and  described  by  natural- 
ists are  those  of  Senegal,  Guinea,  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  Africa ; 
and  those  of  Bengal,  in  Asia. 

*  Ayeen  Akbari,  Vol.  I.  p.  116. 

f  Elephants,  when  young,  are  very  playful.  "  When  merchants  bring-  ele- 
phants to  any  place  for  sale,  'tis  a  pleasant  sight  to  see  them  go  along.  There  are 
old  and  young  together,  and  when  the  old  are  gone  by,  the  children  run  after  the 
little  ones,  and  leap  upon  their  backs,  giving  them  something  to  eat;  but  perceiv- 
ing their  dams  are  gone  forward,  they  throw  the  children  off,  without  hurting  them, 
and  double  their  pace."    Tavernier,  Part  II.  B.  I. 

t  BufFon,  XXVIII.  p.  152  to  156.  §  Encyc.  Brit.  "  Elephas." 


LENGTH  OF  THE  HAIRS  OF  ELEPHANTS.  445 

CHAP. 
XV. 

OF  THE  HAIR  OF  ELEPHANTS. 

The  writer  has  been  favoured,  by  the  proprietor  of  the  menagerie 
in  Exeter  Change,  with  several  hairs  taken  from  the  large  male 
elephant.  One  from  the  fetlock,  a  light  brown  colour,  thicker  than 
the  hair  of  the  human  head,  five  inches  and  a  half  in  length. 

One  from  the  top  of  the  head,  black,  as  thick  as  horse  hair,  two 
inches  and  nine-tenths  long. 

One  from  the  under  lip,  also  like  horse  hair,  black,  and  three  inches 
and  a  half  in  length.  And  one  from  the  front  of  the  proboscis,  black, 
about  twice  the  size  of  horse  hair,  three  inches  and  four-tenths  long  *. 
These  were  taken  hastily,  as  opportunities  offered,  and  were  not  the 
longest. 

A  female  elephant  died  at  Dundee,  April  27,  1706,  and  the  skeleton 
was  prepared  by  Mr.  P.  Blair,  Surgeon.  It  was  eight  feet  six  inches 
high,  and  supposed  to  be  twenty-seven  years  old. 

"  The  cuticula  was  covered  all  over  with  a  strange  sort  of  scab, 
like  short  pieces  of  whalebone,  much  divided,  but  adhering  fast:  they 
were  from  one-sixteenth  to  one-sixth  of  an  inch  in  length;  I  take 
them  to  be  a  distemper  from  the  coldness  of  the  climate.  The  hairs 
are  every  where  pretty  long,  some  two,  some  three  inches: — in  places 
subject  to  rubbing,  an  inch,  or  only  half  an  inch.  There  are  passages 
for  them  through  the  cuticula:  they  arise  from  the  cutis;  they  are 
black,  and  many  of  them  stiffer  than  those  in  a  hog  f ." 

"  In  some  scraped  off  particles  of  the  skin  of  an  elephant,  I  dis- 
covered short  small  hairs.    I  saw  two  hairs  on  one  of  the  particles, 


*  See  Plate,  page  295. 


t  Phil.  Trans.  N°.  326. 


446  COLOUR  OF  ELEPHANTS. 

CHAP,    but  by  means  of  a  microscope  I  discovered  four.    The  yearly  shedding 
v^-v-*^  of  the  matter  that  is  upon  the  skin,  may  be  thus  accounted  for :  when 
the  time  comes  that  there  is  no  increase  of  the  hair,  but  that  it  is,  as 
it  were,  at  a  stand,  as  we  see  in  other  creatures  that  shed  their  hair, 
the  same  thing  happens  to  the  elephant  *." 

"  It  may  be  observed  that,  in  propriety,  the  life  and  growth  of  hairs 
is  of  a  different  kind  from  that  of  the  rest  of  the  body,  and  is  not  im- 
mediately derived  therefrom.  It  is  rather  of  the  nature  of  vegetation. 
They  grow  as  plants  do  out  of  the  earth,  or  as  some  plants  shoot 
from  the  parts  of  others;  from  which  though  they  draw  their  nourish- 
ment, yet  each  has,  as  it  were,  its  several  life  and  a  distinct  economy. 
They  derive  their  food  from  some  juices  in  the  body,  but  not  from  the 
nutricious  juices  of  the  body;  whence  they  may  live,  though  the  body 
be  starvedf ." 

With  respect  to  the  colour  of  elephants.  Monsieur  Vaillant  men- 
tions having  seen  some  of  a  red  colour,  but  it  was  very  probably 
caused  by  the  colour  of  the  earth  where  the  animals  had  been  wal- 
lowing. 

The  white  elephants,  for  the  possession  of  which  so  many  kings 
have  lost  their  lives  and  dominions,  are  apparently  of  the  same  nature 
as  the  albinos,  diseased  irregular  productions,  such  as  frequently  occur 
in  many  animals.  The  writer  happens  to  possess  an  old  coloured  draw- 
ing of  a  very  fine  elephant,  which  he  conjectures,  from  the  appearance 
of  the  natives  attending  it,  to  have  belonged  to  a  king  of  Pegu.  The 
whole  of  the  proboscis,  great  part  of  the  cheek  and  ear,  and  a  large 
proportion  of  the  chest  are  what  is  termed  white.  It  is  in  reality  a 
flesh-colour,  with  a  rosy  hue,  and  covered  with  numerous  black  spots. 
The  remarkable  circumstance  attending  this  painting  is,  that  the 


*  Leeuwenhoek.    Phil.  Trans.  N°.  336. 


t  En  eye.  Brit.  "Hair." 


COUNTRIES  WHICH  CONTAIN  ELLPHANTS.  447 

pupil  and  the  iris  of  the  eye  are  red,  which  is  perhaps  the  case  with  C^yP* 
all  animals  unnaturally  white*. 


OF  WILD  ELEPHANTS,  AND  OTHER  ANIMALS,  AND 
THE  COUNTRIES  THEY  INHABIT. 

Elephants  are  found  in  their  wild  state  in  most  parts  of  Hindostan, 
particularly  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Nepal  mountains ;  in  the 
province  of  Tipera,  the  coast  of  Malabar,  and  many  other  places. 

India  beyond  the  Ganges  abounds  with  them:  they  are  found  in 
Assam,  the  Burman  empire,  Pegu,  Siam,  Tonquin,  Cochin  China, 
Laos,  Cambodia,  the  Chinese  provinces  of  Yunnan  and  Quangsi,  the 
frontiers  of  the  kingdom  of  Boutan  near  to  Great  Tartaryf,  and  Tan- 
gut  %.    In  the  islands  of  Ceylon,  Sumatra,  Java,  and  Borneo. 

In  Africa,  wild  elephants  are  found  in  Abyssinia,  Ethiopia,  and  the 
country  of  the  Troglodytes  §,  Dar-Fur||,  Bornou**,  in  Senegal,  and 
southward  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  both  on  the  west  and  east 
coasts.  And  anciently  in  Lybia  beyond  the  Syrtes  ff,  Mount  Atlas, 
and  other  parts  of  Gsetulia§§. 

*  See  Soninis'  Buffon,  Vol.  XXVIII.  p.  274. 
f  Tavernier,  Part.  II.  B.  I.  p.  96. 

%  Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  358,  and  368.    In  D'Anville's  great  map,  improved  by 
Bolton,  Tangut  begins  in  N.  Lat.  30°;  (now  Lat.  30°  is  Assam). 
§  Brown's  Travels  in  Africa. 
||  Rees's  Cyc.  "Dar  Fur  ;  "  and  Brown's  Travels. 

**  "Herds  of  elephants,  giraffes,  buffaloes,  and  antelopes  of  various  kinds  are 
every  where  seen,  and  especially  on  the  borders  of  the  Lake.  Major  Den  ham 
says,  he  counted  forty-seven  large  elephants  in  one  group." — "  Crocodiles  and  hip- 
popotami abound :  and  an  animal  in  these  lakes,  called  Om  Kergay,  is  mentioned 
by  Burckhardt;  it  is  said  to  be  as  large  as  a  rhinoceros,  with  a  very  small  head  and 
mouth,  and  perfectly  harmless."  Quarterly  Review,  December,  1823,  pp.  52i, 
523.  tt  Cuvier,  p.  74. 

§§  The  vallies  of  Mount  Atlas  are  diversified  with  forests  and  plentiful  springs; 


448 


A  KEDDAH  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


CHAP.  Elephants  are  captured  either  singly,  by  means  of  the  females,  and 
then  it  is  always  males  that  are  taken ;  or  else  in  droves,  being  fright- 
ened into  a  large  enclosure  of  trees,  so  arranged  as  not  to  be  visible  to 
the  animals,  as  a  trap,  till  they  are  conducted  into  it.  It  is  in  Hindos- 
tan  called  a  keddah,  and  has  been  accurately  described  by  Mr.  Corse. 
The  writer  passed  through  Tipera,  when  a  keddah  of,  he  thinks, 
eighty-three  had  been  captured  a  few  weeks,  and  he  rode  several 
miles  to  view  it.  The  animals  were  then  picketed  in  a  plain  near  the 
keddah,  at  a  convenient  distance  from  each  other ;  there  was  not  one 
of  a  very  large  size.  Some  were  unruly,  and  required  to  be  occasionally 
pricked  with  an  iron  spike  at  the  end  of  a  long  bamboo.  In  their  exertions 
to  free  themselves  from  the  ropes  round  their  legs,  many  had  wounded 
the  skin ;  and  some  suffered  severely  from  swarms  of  flies  settling  upon 
the  ulcerated  parts ;  to  keep  them  off,  the  attendants  shook  and  rattled  a 
bamboo  split  at  one  end  into  slender  canes.  Some  of  the  elephants 
were  roaring  lustily ;  and  many  of  them  were,  with  their  trunks,  toss- 
ing about  large  plantain  leaves  and  stems,  and,  probably,  to  keep  off  the 
flies,  covering  their  heads  and  backs  with  the  coarse  grass  with  which 
they  were  supplied,  in  abundance,  for  food. 

a  country  fit  for  the  maintaining  of  elephants.  The  inhabitants  are  called  "Fileli." 
They  are  from  Arabia  Felix.  Fil  is  the  Arabic  word  for  elephant.  Elephants' 
tusks  are  exported  from  Morocco:  but  may  be  conveyed  thither  by  the  caravans 
from  Soudan.  Can  there  be  elephants  now  inhabiting  the  extensive  range  of  the 
Jltlas  mountains?  Perhaps  no  modern  European  traveller  has  visited  the  coun- 
tries on  the  south  and  east  neighbourhoods  of  Mount  Atlas,  but  they  could  scarcely 
be  unknown  to  the  French  and  English  consuls,  if  there  were  elephants  in  those 
regions.  Vide  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Atlas.  Tafilet.  Morocco."  Gsetulian  archers 
fought  with  Pompey's  eighteen  elephants,  in  the  amphitheatre,  (B.  C.  55);  they 
being  used  to  hunt  and  kill  them.  Catrou,  Vol.  VI.  p.  127.  Pliny,  B.  VIII.  Ch. 
VII.  The  countries  about  Senegal  and  the  Niger,  were  by  some  called  Melano- 
o-£etulia  and  Nigritia.  Nothing  positive  can  be  known  about  the  bounds  of  Gaetulia. 
There  is  a  great  desert  between  Morocco  and  Senegal. 


EGYPT.— SYENE.— DAR-FUR.  449 

CHAP. 
XV. 


ON  THE  NUMBERS  OF  ELEPHANTS. 


In  Bornou,  we  have  seen,  that  Major  Denham  counted  forty-seven 
elephants  in  one  group.  In  Dar-Fur,  they  are  seen  in  herds  of  four 
or  five  hundred ;  and  sometimes,  it  is  reported,  even  of  two  thousand*. 
In  Assam,  five  or  six  hundred  may  be  procured  in  one  yearf .  In 
Siam,  they  capture  as  many  as  a  hundred  and  forty  at  one  time  %.  In 
Ceylon,  a  hundred  and  sixty  have  been  taken  in  one  keddah  §.  The 
Subah  of  Bengal  is  said  to  have  furnished  annually,  in  Akbar's  reign, 
four  hundred  and  fifty-two  elephants,  of  which  number  the  Circar  of 

*  See  Rees's  Cyc.  Dar-Fur;  and  Brown's  Travels.  The  Romans  were  most 
probably  supplied  from  Ethiopia,  called  Nubia  by  the  Arabs,  and  sometimes  by 
the  Romans,  (now  Bornou,  Abyssinia,  and  Dar-Fur),  through  the  port  of  Syene; 
of  which  place  Juvenal,  the  satirist,  was  governor,  in  the  reign  of  Domitian,  who 
kept  herds  of  elephants  in  the  Rutulian  forests. 

"  But  now,  such  strange  caprice  has  seized  the  great, 

They  find  no  pleasure  in  the  costliest  treat, 

Unless  wide  yawning  panthers,  towering  high — 

(Enormous  pedestals  of  ivory, 

From  teeth  the  ./Ethiopian  realm  supplies  (a), 

Or  Indian,  or  from  those  of  larger  size, 

Which,  now  too  old,  too  heavy  for  the  head, 

The  beasts  in  Nabathean  (Z>)  forests  shed) — 

The  spacious  orbs  support:  then  they  can  feed, 

And  every  dish  grows  delicate  indeed !" — Juvenal,  Sat.  XI. 

(a)  "  Quos  mittit  porta  Syenes."  "  Syene  was  the  capital  of  the  Insula  Ele- 
phantina,  so  called  from  the  number  of  its  elephants." — Madan's  Juvenal,  Sat.  XI. 
note  124. 

(h)  Meaning  Eastern,  (from  Italy). 

f  Sir  William  Jones's  Supplement,  Vol.  I.  p.  232. 
+  Embassy  of  the  Chevalier  Chaumont. 
§  Le  Bruyn,  Vol.  II.  p.  184. 

MMM 


450 


TUSKS  OF  FIFTEEN  THOUSAND  ELEPHANTS. 


Sylhet  supplied  one  hundred  and  ninety,  and  the  Circar  of  Ghoraghaut 
fifty,  and  Sunargong  two  hundred :  besides  three  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-three from  the  Subah  of  Allahabad :  two  hundred  and  twenty  from 
the  Subah  of  Agra:  ninety  from  Malwa,  &c.  *.  There  is  scarcely  any 
limit  to  the  number  that  might  be  collected  by  an  Asiatic  or  African 
monarch  f. 

Elephants  are  now  not  made  use  of  in  warfare,  except  for  carrying 
their  owners  and  the  tents  and  baggage.  The  monarchs  of  Oude 
keep  a  great  number  for  hunting  expeditions ;  even  at  the  present  day 
more  than  a  thousand :  which  is  shewn  in  Ch.  VIII.  of  this  volume, 
with  many  instances  of  the  numbers  formerly  kept,  generally  much 
exaggerated,  but  at  the  lowest  number  that  need  be  credited  amount- 
ing to  vast  establishments. 

More  than  fifteen  thousand  "  half  reasoning  elephants,"  were  slain 
to  supply  Great  Britain  with  knife  handles  and  toys,  in  eleven  years, 
from  1788  to  1798.  According  to  an  account  delivered  to  the  House 
of  Commons  eighteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fourteen  cwt.  of 
ivory,  were  imported. — See  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Ivory."  Seventy  pounds 
weight  are  allowed  for  each  tusk,  which  is  probably  much  more  than 
the  average  weight.  ' 

*  Ayeen  Akbari,  Vol.  II.  pp.  30,  39,  48,  185,  18.S,  189,  This  edition  of  the 
Ayeen  Akbari,  p.  16,  says,  Bengal  supplies  one  hundred  and  seventy  elephants: 
the  above  is  taken  from  the  detail  of  the  Circars:  but  another  edition  says,  Bengal 
supplies  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy.  See  Ayeen  Akbari,  4to.  by  Glad- 
win, dated  Calcutta,  1777,  printed  iu  London. 

f  At  Angola,  where  Andrew  Battell  lived  many  years,  he  relates  that  the 
natives  have  idols  of  wood,  in  the  midst  of  their  towns.  They  are  called  Mokisso, 
and  are  fashioned  like  a  negro,  At  the  foot  of  the  idol  is  a  vast  number  of  ele  - 
phants'  tusks,  three  or  four  tons  of  them,  stuck  in  the  ground,  and  upon  them 
were  set  the  skulls  of  men  slain  in  the  wars,  as  a  token  of  victory.  Purchas,  Vol. 
I.  p.  869,  B. 


SIX  SPECIES  OF  THE  RHINOCEROS.  451 


CHAP. 
XV. 


OF  THE  COUNTRIES  OF  THE  RHINOCEROS,  HIPPO- 
POTAMUS, AND  OTHER  WILD  BEASTS. 


In  Asia. — The  one-horned  rhinoceros  is  found  in  the  Panjab;  in 
Guzerat ;  in  the  Sunderbunds  of  Bengal,  and  other  parts  of  Hindostan ; 
in  the  Birman  empire;  Siam;  Cochin  China;  Quangsi  in  China*; 
and,  probably,  in  all  the  countries  called  "  India  beyond  the  Ganges  f 
in  Java;  Sumatra,  &c.  The  rhinoceros  with  two  horns  is  found  in 
Sumatra,  and  is  described  by  Mr.  Bell  in  the  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions, 1793. 

In  Africa. — "  It  is  certain  that  the  one-horned  rhinoceros  is  found 
towards  Cape  Gardafui,  by  the  straits  of  Babelmandel ;  and,  if  the  na- 
tives are  to  be  believed,  the  one-horned  is  found  also  in  the  kingdom 
of  Adelf ."  "  In  the  royal  stables  at  Ispahan  there  was  a  rhinoceros 
with  one  horn.  It  was  brought  for  the  king  by  an  ambassador  from 
Ethiopia  J."  The  two-horned  rhinoceros,  which  was  frequently  exhi- 
bited by  the  Romans  §,  is  known  to  inhabit  Abyssinia,  Congo,  Angola, 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  other  countries  in  Africa.  "  The  rhino- 
ceros brought  by  Mr  Campbell  from  the  interior  of  Africa,  as  far  as 
respects  the  appearance  of  the  horns,  is  entirely  a  new  species.  The 
horn  is  a  yard  long,  very  small  at  the  point,  and  two  feet  in  circumfer- 
ence at  the  base :  the  small  horn  is  close  to  it,  and  stands  up  perpendi- 
cularly behind  the  base  of  the  long  one,  and  is  only  twelve  inches 
high,  while  its  circumference  at  the  base,  is  twenty- four  inches  ||." 

*  Abbe  Grosier,  Vol.  I.  p.  112.  f  Bruce's  Travels,  Vol  V.  p.  85. 

£  Sir  John  Chardin's  Travels. 

§  See  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Rhinoceros,"  where  it  is  said  there  are  five  species:  that 
described  by  Sir  E.  Home  makes  a  sixth.    See  also  Martial's  Epigrams. 
||  Sir  Everard  Home,  Phil.  Trans.  1821. 

M  M  M  2 


452  COUNTRIES  OF  WILD  BEASTS. 

CHAP.  Hippopotamus — is  found  in  Senegal*,  Abyssinia, Dongola, Dar-Fur, 
v^-v-*^  Bornouf,  and  many  parts  of  southern  Africa.  Also  in  the  Nile  in 
upper  Egypt :  sometimes  in  lower  Egypt.  Two  were  killed  near  Da- 
mietta,  A.  D.  1600  J.  They  are  not  known  to  inhabit  Asia.  In  a 
French  translation  of  Pallas,  Vol.  V.  p.  204,  the  walrus  is  named 
Hippopotamus. — See  Ch.  XVI.  of  this  Vol. 

Ostriches. — Numidia,  Dar-Fur,  Bornou,  and  numerous  other  places. 

Tigers. — Senegal  §,  Hindostan,  Chinese  Tartary,  the  Altai  moun- 
tains, and  many  other  parts  of  Asia||. 

Lions,  Leopards,  Panthers. — India,  Persia,  Abyssinia,  Bornou, 
Morocco,  Dar-Fur,  and  many  other  parts  of  Africa  and  Asia. 

Buffaloes — are  found  in  most  parts  of  India,  and  many  parts  of  Asia 
and  Africa.    In  Pegu  they  are  of  a  monstrous  size**. 

Hycenas. — Hindostan,  Persia,  Asia  Minor,  Syria,  Barbary,  Abyssi- 
nia, Dar-Fur,  &c. 

Asses. — Plentiful  in  Persia  and  Armeniaff. 

Zebras. — Congo,  Abyssinia,  and  other  parts  of  Africa  % %. 


*  Adanson. 

t  The  river  Sliary  empties  itself  by  two  branches  into  the  lake  Tsad.  Croco- 
diles were  basking  on  the  banks,  fish  and  water  fowl  abounded,  and  the  huge  hip- 
popotami came  so  near  as  to  be  struck  with  the  paddles. — Quarterly  Review, 
LXII.  March  1825. 

t  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Hip."    Bruce,  Vol.  V.  p.  85. 

§  Adanson.  "  What  are  called  Tigers,  in  Morocco,  are  leopards.  The  royal 
tiger  is  there  unknown."— Chenier,  Vol.  I.  p.  171.  The  first  tigers  seen  by  the 
Romans,  were  those  presented  by  the  Indian  ambassadors  to  Augustus,  while  he 
was  at  Samos. — See  Crevier,  "Augustus."  This  may  be  deemed  a  proof  that 
tigers  are  not  known  in  Africa. 

||  Leopards,  panthers,  &c.  are  frequently  called  tigers  by  travellers. 

**  Purchas,  Vol.  I.  p.  56G.  B. 

ft  Xenophon,  Exp.  of  Cyrus,  p.  27;  and  SirR.  K.  Porter's  Travels,  with  an 
engraving  of  one. 

tt  Mod.  Univ.  Hist.  Vol.  VI.  p.  185.    Lobo,  Vol.  1.  p.  291.    Rees's  Cyc. 


REEM.— UNICORN.— CAMELOPARD. 


Camelopards. — Siam  in  Asia*,  Senegal,  Abyssina,  Bornou,  Dar- 
Fur,  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  other  parts  of  Africa.  The  Meem, 
translated  in  the  book  of  Job  unicorn,  is  most  probably  the  camelopard, 
which  must  have  been  known  to  Job.  Bruce  remarks  that  Meem,  in  the 
Hebrew  and  Ethiopic,  is  derived  from  erectness,  or  standing  straight; 
and  he  supposes  that  it  alludes  to  the  upright  position  of  the  horn,  as  the 
rhinoceros  has  bending  knees.  The  commentators  on  Job,  Chapter 
XXXIX.  and  on  Numbers,  Ch.  XXIII.  v.  22,  think  that  the  original 
means  wild  bull,  goat,  antelope,  &c.  The  camelopard  was  probably 
not  known  to  the  translators;  it  is  but  recently  that  it  has  been 
accurately  known.  Heliodorus  speaks  of  the  camelopard  being 
brought,  among  other  presents,  by  the  Ethiopian  ambassadors  to 
Rome.  They  were  often  exhibited  at  the  games  after  Egypt  belonged 
to  the  Romans. 

Bears — were  found  in  perhaps  every  part  of  the  continent  of 
Europe,  and  also  in  Africa  and  Asia.  Bears'  flesh  was  much  esteemed 
by  the  ancients  as  food,  and  is  still  served  up  at  the  tables  of  princes. 
The  Emperor  of  China  will  send  a  hundred  leagues  to  procure  bears 
for  an  entertainment.  The  fur  has  always  been  valuable.  The  Ur- 
sarii  were  servants  in  great  families  among  the  Romans,  who  had  the 
care  of  breeding  and  feeding  these  animals.  The  English  nobility  had 
officers  of  this  kind :  the  fifth  earl  of  Northumberland  paid  one  of 
them  a  salary  of  twenty  shillings  f.  In  early  times  it  is  not  improba- 
ble that  bears  were  fed  and  bred  by  the  barbarous  nations  of  Germany 
as  ordinary  food. 

*  Vincent  Le  Blanc,  p.  115.  As  I  have  not  met  with  any  other  authorky, 
I  venture  to  conjecture,  that  those  mentioned  by  Le  Blanc  had  been  imported 
from  Africa,  for  the  parks  of  the  sovereigns. 

f  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Bear's  flesh,"  and  "  Bear  wards." — The  Romans  exhibited 

Numidian  bears  See  Beloe's  Herodotus,  Melpomene,  CXCI.  and  note  188  ; 

and  Cb.  XI.  of  this  Vol. 


454 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


On  the  Fisheries  in  the  Arctic  Seas,  of  the  Walrus,  ( the  Mammoth 


J.  HE  Trichechus  Rosmarus  is  generally  known  by  the  names,  wal- 
i  rus,  morse,  morsch,  sea-horse.    It  is  sometimes  called  sea-lion,  sea- 
ox,  horse-whale,  and  sea-elephant.    By  the  Samoyedes  it  is  named  Ti- 
ute*.    By  the  eastern  and  other  Siberians,  Behemotf  and  Mam- 
moth j. 

*  Tooke's  Russian  Empire,  Vol.  III.  p.  91. 

f  Miischkin  Puschkin,  Vaivode  of  Smolensko,  and  Intendant  of  the  Chancery 
of  the  government  of  Siberia,  A.D.  1685. — Vide  Father  Avril's  Travels,  p.  176. 

X  "The  Russian  Mammoth  certainly  came  from  the  word  Behemot.  It  is  current- 
ly believed  by  the  Siberian  populace,  that  mammoths  were  amphibious  crea- 
tures."— Strahlenberg-,  p.  404.  "  The  Russians  drive  a  great  trade  to  Pekin  in  the 
teeth  of  a  sort  of  fish,  which  are  much  finer,  whiter,  and  more  precious  than  ivo- 
ry."— Du  Halde,  Vol.  II.  p.  263.  A  note  at  the  bottom  of  the  page  adds,  "  they 
are  those  called  mammut's  teeth,  found  lately  to  be  teeth  of  elephants."  This  note 
was  probably  added  by  the  translator.  "  A  great  many  mammoths'  teeth,  which 
are  white,  are  carried  for  sale  to  China." — Strahlenberg,  p.  402. 


of  Siberia),  and  the  Narwal.  Surprising  numbers  of  these 

Animals.  -Description   of  the  Walrus   by   the  Emperor 

Kang-hi. 


THE  WALRUS. 


SIZE  OF  THE  WALRUS 


DESCRIPTION. 

Five  toes  to  each  foot,  diminishing  from  the  great  toe  to  the  small 
one,  on  the  fore  feet;  but  the  great  and  small  toes  are  the  longest  on 
the  hind  feet,  and  the  intermediate  the  shortest :  the  fore  feet  enve- 
loped in  the  skin  of  the  body  as  far  as  the  carpus ;  the  hind  feet  enve- 
loped almost  to  the  heel;  short  tail 

It  surpasses  the  largest  bulls  in  size,  attains  twenty-four  feet  in 
length*,  and  is  covered  with  a  yellowish  close  fur.  The  lower  jaw  is 
without  incisives  and  canines;  in  the  upper  jaw  are  two  enormous 
tusks,  pointing  downwards.  Grinders,  like  short  cylinders  cut 
obliquely,  four  on  each  side,  above  and  below,  two  of  the  upper  falling 
at  a  certain  age ;  two  incisives,  like  grinders,  between  the  canines ; 
and  between  these,  (in  young  individuals),  two  small  and  pointed  inci- 
sives. The  enormous  sockets,  necessary  for  their  tusks,  curl  up 
the  fore  part  of  the  upper  jaw,  in  the  form  of  a  large  swelled  muffle  : 
these  tusks  receive  a  pivot  from  the  bases  of  their  alveoli,  or  sockets. 

They  appear  to  live  on  sea-weed  and  animal  substances,  and  inha- 
bit every  part  of  the  frozen  ocean.  The  ivory  is  said  never  to  change 
its  colour ;  it  is  granular,  and  presents  small  close  round  spots.  That 
of  the  elephant  and  mammoth  is  reticulated  in  a  lozenge  f . 

The  tusks  of  the  walrus  are  found  in  great  numbers  along  the  shores 
of  the  Arctic  sea.  There  are  two  in  the  museum  of  the  Royal  College 
of  Surgeons  in  Lincoln's-inn- fields,  which  appear  to  be  about  two 
feet  long.    At  Schalanginski,  among  the  Tschudski,  where  the  num- 

*  "  Ce  paisibile  ampbibi  a  quelques  fois  plus  tie  vingt  quatre  pieds  de 

longueur."  Levesque,  Vol.  VI.  p.  21 . 

f  Bowdich,  "  Mammalia,"  p.  42.    Mammoth  here  means  the  fossil  elephant. 


455 


156  GREAT  NUMBERS  AND  SIZE  OF  WALRUS  TUSKS. 

CHAP,    ber  found  is  great,  and,  they  affirm,  detached  from  the  animal,  they  are 
XVI.  . 

v-^V^  sometimes  twenty-nine  and  thirty  pounds  weight,  and  an  ell  and  a 
half  long,  (meaning  probably  the  Russian  ell,  or  archine,  which  is 
twenty-eight  inches  English*).  BufFon  observes  that  "le  morse  a 
deux  grand es  defenses  d'i voire  comme  l'elephant,  auquel  il  resemble- 
roit  en  entier  par  cette  partie  capitale,  s'il  avoit  une  trompef."  The 
morse  is  bred  in  the  Russian  seas,  and  climbs  upon  the  rocks  by  the 
help  of  his  tusks,  in  order  to  seek  his  food  J.  It  is  said  to  feed  also 
on  dead  whales  §. 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  WALRUS. 

"  The  elder  Gmelin  has  circumstantially  described  the  vast  extent 
of  the  haunts  of  the  morse  in  his  Travels,  torn.  III.  p.  165.  They 
begin  about  the  Kurilly  Islands,  are  found  in  the  parts  contiguous  to 
Behring's  Island;  and  in  general  throughout  the  whole  of  the  Russian 
Archipelago ;  proceeding  thence  towards  the  Anadyr,  and  the  Tschuts- 
kian  promontory,  ( where  are  found  an  astonishing  quantity  of  morse 
teeth,  which  leads  Gmelin  to  believe  that  they  retire  into  these  unfre- 
quented regions  for  shedding  their  large  old  tusks  for  young  ones); 
and  they  are  found  in  swarms  all  along  the  coasts  of  the  frozen  ocean, 
as  far  as  Greenland.  Hermann's  Statistische  Schilderung  von  Russ- 
land,  p.  254  || . 

*  BufFon,  Vol.  XXXIV.  p.  162.  Encyc.  Brit.  « Trichechus."  Harris's 
Voyages,  Vol.  II.  p.  487.  Travellers,  in  general,  speaking'  of  ells,  and  being  of 
different  nations,  it  is  impossible  to  know  the  measure  which  they  allude  to. 
When  the  ell  is  not  specified,  it  is  presumed  to  mean  that  of  Russia,  when  the  re- 
mark relates  to  that  country. 

t  Vol.  XXIV.  p.  159.  %  Milton's  Historical  Works,  Vol.  II.  p.  133. 

§  Strahlenberg,  p.  19.  [j  Tooke,  Vol.  III.  p.  100. 


KING  ALFRED.— WALRUS  FISHERY. 

From  Yakutsk  vessels  go  to  the  mouth  of  the  Lena  to  get  narwal 
and  whale  oil ;  the  natives  pretend  to  be  descended  from  the  Mongols 
and  Calmucs.    *    *  * 

The  towns  of  Tangviskoi  and  Mungaseja  are  on  the  Nijnaya  Ton- 
guska,  not  far  from  the  Jenesai ;  they  drive  a  great  trade  by  land  in 
furs,  sea  horse  and  mammoths'  teeth  ;  and  from  these  two  towns,  they 
send  out  several  vessels  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  the  sea  coast, 
to  fish  for  sea  horses  and  seals  -\. 

#        *         #  * 

"  Octher,  the  Norwegian,  made  a  report  to  king  Alfred,  about  the 
year  890,  of  the  chace  of  the  walrus ;  having  made  a  voyage  beyond 
Norway  for  the  fishing  of  horse-whales,  which  have  in  their  teeth  bones 
of  great  price  and  excellency,  whereof  he  brought  some,  at  his  return, 
unto  the  king.  In  fact,  it  was  in  the  northern  world,  in  early  times, 
the  substitute  to  ivory.  The  morse  feeds  on  sea  herbs  and  fish,  also 
on  shells,  which  they  dig  out  of  the  sand  with  their  teeth,  which  they 
also  make  use  of  to  ascend  rocks  or  pieces  of  ice,  fastening  them  to 
the  cracks,  and  drawing  their  bodies  up  by  that  means.  Besides  man- 
kind they  seem  to  have  no  other  enemy  than  the  white  bear,  with 
whom  they  have  terrible  combats;  but  generally  come  off  victorious, 
by  means  of  their  great  teeth 

*        *        *  * 

We  caught  and  killed  one  fish  whose  head  was  so  large,  that  his 

t  Isbrandts  Ides,  Vol.  II.  pp.957,  958.  This  probably  means  walrus  and  ele- 
phants. On  another  occasion  this  author  calls  the  morse  tusks  sent  to  China  by 
the  name  of  mammoth  See  Harris,  Vol.  II.  p.  928. 

%  Encyc.  Brit.  "  Trichechus. 

N  N  N 


457 


458  CHERRY  ISLAND.— ENGLISH  FISHERY. 

CXVIP*    grea>  teeth  wei&hed'  eacn  of  tnem>  twenty-nine  or  thirty  pounds 
(French)  f. 

#        *        *  * 

Cherry  Island  (so  called  in  honour  of  Sir  Francis  Cherry)  lies  south 
of  Spitsbergen,  where  in  one  season  the  crew  made  twenty  tons  of  oil 
out  of  the  flesh,  and  got  three  hogsheads  of  morses'  teeth.  In  1610, 
the  Russia  Company  took  possession  of  it,  and  that  year  they  killed  a 
thousand  morses,  and  made  fifty  tons  of  oil.  They  discovered  three 
lead  and  coal  mines  upon  this  and  the  small  islands  near  it.  Towards 
the  end  of  June  the  pitch  ran  down  the  sides  of  the  ship  with  the 
heat  of  the  weather.  The  island  abounds  with  wild  fowl,  seals,  and 
bears;  but  has  not  been  visited  the  last  hundred  years.  In  the  reign 
of  Alfred  there  was  a  profitable  fishery  in  these  seas  J. 

*        *        #  * 

"  We  saw  many  morses  swimming  near  our  ships,  and  heard  withal 
so  huge  a  noise  of  roaring,  as  if  there  had  been  a  hundred  lions. 
For  all  we  could  do,  out  of  above  a  thousand,  we  killed  but  fifteen.  I 
found  a  tooth,  and,  going  a  little  farther,  found  as  many  more  as  filled 
a  hogshead ;  all  which  we  did  deliver  to  Master  Welden." 

"  Under  a  large  cliff  upon  the  beach  we  found  near  a  thousand  morses. 
We  killed  thirty,  and  took  off  their  heads  §." 

*        *        *  * 

t  Voyage  des  pays  Septentrionaux  de  M.  de  la  Martiniere.  A.  D.  1671. 
%  Harris's  Voyages,  Vol.  II.  p.  389. 

§  Voyages  of  Jonas  Poole  to  Cherry  Island,  about  1604  to  1609 — Purchas,  Vol. 
III.  557. 


KING  JAMES.— A  LIVING  WALRUS.  459 

"  The  morse  teeth,  taken  about  Petchora,  are  almost  two  feet  long,  CHAP. 

5  XVI. 

and  weigh  eleven  or  twelve  poundsf ."  k^-^-^j 

*  *        *  * 

The  teeth  of  the  walrus  have  been  found  in  the  earth  about  Ana- 
dirski,  and  are  larger  than  the  common  sort  from  Archangel,  Kola,  and 
Greenland.  Quantities  of  their  hones  are  found  on  the  coasts  of  the 
northern  sea  %. 

*  *        *  * 

The  ninth  day  we  got  one  tierce  of  morses'  teeth,  besides  four  hun- 
dred other  teeth.  We  brought  a  young  living  morse  to  court,  where 
King  James,  and  many  honourable  personages,  beheld  it  with  admira- 
tion. It  soon  died.  It  was  of  a  strange  docility,  and  very  apt  to  be 
taught  §. 

*  #         *  * 

There  are  annual  expeditions  from  Mezen,  near  Archangel,  to  No- 
va Zembla.  for  morses'  teeth  ||. 

In  north  latitude  68°  1',  longitude  188°  30'  we  sent  our  boats  in 
pursuit  of  the  sea  horses,  which  were  in  great  numbers  on  the 
pieces  of  ice  that  surrounded  us.    Our  people  returned  with  three 

f  Dr.  Fletcher,  ambassador  from  Queen  Elizabeth  to  the  Emperor  Theodor. — 
Purchas,  Vol.  111.413. 

%  Encyc.  Brit.  "  Siberia."  Goldsmith's  Nat.  Hist.  These  are  what  have  been 
reported  to  Pallas,  Billings,  and  others,  as  mammoth  remains. 

§  Voyage  of  R.  Stevens,  of  Harwich,  to  Cherry  Island,  in  1608. — Purchas,  Vol. 
III.  p.  560.  The  skeleton  of  this  animal  may  probably  be  found  in  or  near  Lon- 
don. Others  may  have  been  brought  to  England  when  these  fisheries  were  pur- 
sued. ||  Levesque,  Vol.  VI.  p.  21. 

N  N  N  2 


460  CAPTAIN  COOK.— COAST  OF  SIBERIA. 

CHAP,  large  ones  and  a  young  one,  besides  killing  and  wounding  several 
^0^-^/  others.  On  the  approach  of  our  boats  towards  the  ice,  they  all 
took  their  cubs  under  their  fins,  and  endeavoured  to  escape  with 
them  into  the  sea.  Several,  whose  young  were  killed  or  wound- 
ed, and  left  floating  on  the  surface,  rose  again  and  carried  them  down, 
sometimes  just  as  our  people  were  going  to  take  them  up  into  the  boat, 
and  might  be  traced  bearing  them  to  a  great  distance  through  the 
water,  which  was  coloured  with  their  blood :  we  afterwards  observed 
them  bringing  them,  at  times,  above  the  surface,  as  if  for  air,  and  again 
diving  under  it,  with  a  dreadful  bellowing.  The  female,  in  particular, 
whose  young  had  been  destroyed  and  taken  into  the  boat,  became  so 
enraged,  that  she  attacked  the  cutter,  and  struck  her  two  teeth  through 
the  bottom  of  itf . 

$F  "ifc  "sfe  ifc 

The  principal  objects  of  the  sea  chace,  about  Spitsbergen  and 
Nova  Zembla  are  whales  and  morses,  a  toilsome  and  dangerous 
trade. 

The  people  who  go  out  to  catch  the  morse,  are  hired  by  a  ship  owner, 
fitted  out  with  provisions  and  other  necessaries,  and  they  receive  a 
share  of  what  they  take,  or  else  five  or  ten  rubles  for  the  summer. 
They  usually  carry  out  a  year's  provision,  as  they  are  often  obliged  to 
pass  the  winter  on  board  their  ships,  which  are  provided  with  an 
oven,  wood,  and  water,  with  which,  when  they  go  ashore,  they  prepare 
quas.  When  the  morse  catchers  are  happily  arrived  at  their  destina- 
tion, they  anchor  near  the  huts  which  have  been  left  by  their  prede- 
cessors in  this  hazardous  warfare.  They  commit  themselves  to  the 
small  boats,  of  which  every  vessel  takes  one  or  two,  and  proceed  to  the 


t  Captains  Cook  and  King's  Voyage,  Vol.  IN.  p.  247. 


IMMENSE  HEAPS  OF  WALRUSES  KILLED. 


461 


conflict.    The  first  fine  day  they  usually  find  morses  on  the  land  or  CHAP, 
the  ice,  where  those  monsters  go  to  cast  their  young,  and  remain  a 
month  or  two,  frequently  in  prodigious  numbers.    These  fat  animals 
emit  a  horrid  stench. 

When  the  captors  have  reached  this  formidable  encampment,  they 
quit  their  boats,  armed  with  pikes :  they  cut  off  the  retreat  to  the  sea, 
and  pierce  those  morses  which  come  first  to  save  themselves  in  the 


As  these  animals  scramble  over  one  another  in  their  attempts  to  es- 
cape; from  the  numbers  of  the  slain,  there  soon  arises  a  bulwark, 
which  effectually  choaks  up  the  passage  to  the  living;  and  there  the 
captors  proceed  to  the  slaughter,  till  they  have  not  left  one  alive. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  so  great  are  the  heaps  of  the  dead,  that 
the  vessels  can  only  contain  the  heads  or  the  teeth;  the  fat,  blubber, 
and  skins,  are  then  left  behind. 

Easy  as  it  is  to  kill  these  animals  on  land,  the  conflict  is  dangerous 
in  their  own  element.  When  any  escape  into  the  water,  the  captors 
leap  upon  the  ice,  and  harpoon  them,  if  they  can,  in  the  breast  or  belly. 
They  then  drive  a  stake  into  the  ice,  and  tie  the  harpoon-cord  to  it, 
drawing  the  animal  about  till  he  is  exhausted,  when  they  kill  him  out- 
right. 

When  the  morses  are  so  near  the  water  as  to  leap  in  ere  the  at- 
tack begins,  the  captors  fasten  the  cord,  when  they  have  thrown  the 
harpoon,  only  to  the  head  of  the  boat;  which  is  then  drawn  by  the  huge 
animal  so  deep  into  the  water,  that  the  sailors  must  all  run  a-stern. 
Then  the  morse  rises  erect  upon  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  makes  a 
furious  attack ;  sometimes  he  is  so  successful  as  to  shatter  the  boat  with 
his  long  stout  tusks,  or  to  throw  himself  suddenly,  by  a  leap,  into  the 
midships.  The  crew  then  jump  overboard,  and  hold  by  the  gunnel, 
till  other  morse-hunters  come  to  their  assistance  in  this  desperate 
situation. 


water. 


MAMMOTHS  ARE  AMPHIBIOUS. 

Of  the  morse  skins  are  made  traces  for  carriages,  horse  harnesses, 
&c.  and  excellent  size  for  paper  manufactories.  A  pood  of  morse  teeth 
costs  upon  the  spot  twenty  or  thirty  rubles.  In  1793,  the  exports  by 
sea  from  all  the  ports  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  ninety  poods  of 
mammoths'  bones  and  morse  tusks,  value  six  thousand  one  hundred 
and  thirty- six  rubles. 

The  frozen  ocean  likewise  teems  with  the  narwal  and  many  other 
animals  valuable  for  their  skins  or  their  blubber  f . 

#         *        *  * 

At  Malone  the  track  for  horses  is  generally  finished,  though  the  na- 
tives do  sometimes  go  as  far  as  Nishney  Kolymsk,  on  the  Kolyma,  and 
even  to  the  frozen  sea,  in  search  of  sea  horse  and  mammoths'  tusks. 

On  one  day  the  Tschuktchi  were  particularly  flush  of  sea  horse  teeth, 
and  they  were  at  a  reduced  price.  Another  day,  they  brought  four  or 
five  hundred,  and  bartered  them  J. 

*        *        *  * 

"  The  Russians,  says  Father  Avril,  have  discovered  a  sort  of  ivory 
which  is  ivhiter  and  smoother  than  that  which  comes  from  the  Indies; 
not  that  they  have  any  elephants,  but  other  amphibious  animals,  which 
they  call  by  the  name  Behemot%,  and  which  are  usually  found  in  the 
river  Lena,  or  upon  the  shores  of  the  Tartarian  sea. 

f  Tooke's  Russian  Empire,  Vol.  111.  B.  X. 

%  Capt.  Cochrane's  Pedestrian  Journey,  pp.  233,  263,  268.  (Elephants  tusks 
have  been  found  in  those  regions;  but  in  Chap.  XV.  it  is  seen  what  an  uncommon 
occurrence  it  is).  Captain  C.  when  he  heard  the  word  mammoth,  would  no  doubt 
conclude  that  it  alluded  to  the  elephant. 

§  Behemot  is  by  the  Russians  corruptly  pronounced  Mammoth.  Strahlenberg-, 


462 

CHAP. 
XVI. 


SIBERIANS  FLOATED  TO  AMERICA  UPON  ICE. 


463 


Several  teeth  of  this  monster  were  shewn  us  at  Moscow :  they  were  CHAP. 

XVI. 

ten  inches  (French) long,  and  two  in  diameter  at  the  root;  nor  are  the  v-^-V-^-. 
elephant's  teeth  comparable  to  them  either  for  beauty  or  whiteness. 
The  Persians  and  Turks  who  buy  them  up,  prefer  a  scimitar  or  dagger- 
haft  of  this  precious  ivory,  before  a  handle  of  massy  silver  or  gold. 

They  were  beholden  for  the  discovery  of  this  to  the  inhabitants  of  a 
certain  island,  out  of  which,  they  say,  issued  the  first  colonies  that  ever 
peopled  America.  Thus  much  we  learnt  on  this  subject  from  Musch- 
kin  Puschkin,  Vaivode  of  Smolensk©,  a  person  of  as  great  wit  as  a 
man  can  well  meet  with,  and  perfectly  acquainted  with  all  the  coun- 
tries that  lie  beyond  the  Oby,  as  having  been  a  long  time  Intendant 
of  the  Chancery  of  the  government  of  Siberia. 

With  regard  to  America,  "  there  is  "  said  he,  "  beyond  the  Oby,  a 
great  river  called  Kawoina,  into  which  another  river  empties  itself,  by 
the  name  of  Lena*.  At  the  mouth  of  the  first  river  that  discharges 
itself  into  the  frozen  sea,  stands  a  spacious  island  very  well  peopled, 
and  which  is  no  less  considerable  for  hunting  the  Behemot,  an  amphi- 
bious animal,  whose  teeth  are  in  great  esteem.  The  inhabitants  go 
frequently  upon  the  side  of  the  frozen  sea  to  hunt  this  monster,  and, 
because  it  requires  great  labour  and  assiduity,  they  carry  their  families 
along  with  them.  Now  it  many  times  happens,  that,  being  surprised 
with  a  thaw,  they  are  carried  away  I  know  not  whither,  upon  huge 
pieces  of  ice,  that  break  off  one  from  another. 

p.  403.    It  does  not  appear  that  Father  Avril  was  acquainted  with  the  discovery 
of  the  bones  of  elephants. 

*  The  geography  of  Siberia  was  at  that  time  not  known.  The  Kovima  is 
many  huudred  miles  from  the  Lena.  The  mouth  of  the  Lena  was  discovered  in 
1636.  (Levesque,  VIII.  12).  This  conversation  was  in  1685.  Muschkin  Puschkin 
had  been  a  long  time  Intendant ;  which  makes  it  probable,  that  when  walruses 
were  named  Behemots,  elephants' remains  had  not  attracted  the  notice  of  Euro- 
peans; it  is  they,  and  not  the  Siberians,  who  name  elephants  mammoths.  See 
Strahlenberg,  p.  403. 


464  FIRST  VOYAGE  TO  THE  KOVIMA. 

CHAP.  For  my  part,  added  he,  I  am  persuaded  that  several  of  those  hunt- 
ers  have  been  carried  upon  these  floating  pieces  of  ice  to  the  most 
northern  part  of  America,  which  is  not  far  off  from  that  coast  of  Asia 
which  juts  out  into  the  sea  of  Tartary.  What  confirms  me  in  this 
opinion  is  this,  that  the  Americans,  who  inhabit  that  country  which 
advances  farthest  towards  that  sea,  have  the  same  physiognomy  as 
those  unfortunate  islanders,  whom  the  over  eager  thirst  after  gain  ex- 
poses, in  that  manner,  to  be  transported  into  a  foreign  countryf ." 

*  *         #  # 

The  first  voyage  from  the  Kovima  was  in  1646,  under  Isaac  Ignatief,  a 
native  of  Mesen.  In  a  bay,  latitude  72°,  they  met  with  some  of  the 
Tschuktchi  nation,  but  would  not  venture  on  land.  They  spread  their 
commodities  on  the  shore,  of  which  the  natives  took  what  they  pleased, 
and  deposited  in  their  place  Walrus  teeth,  and  articles  made  of  that 
species  of  ivory.  In  the  voyage  of  Deshnef,  a  few  years  afterwards, 
towards  the  Anadyr,  the  Tschuktchi  had  piled  up  on  the  west  side  of  a 
river,  a  number  of  whales'  bones,  or,  according  to  other  reports,  they 
are  the  tusks  of  the  walrus.  They  are  raised  in  the  form  of  a  tower. 
— Rees's  Cyc.  "Asia." 

*  *        *  # 

The  Chinese  appear  to  have  been  long  acquainted  with  this  animal 
and  its  ivory.  "  A  kind  of  flying  rat,"  says  the  Abbe  Grosier,  "  is 
seen  near  Keon-onoi:  it  is  larger  than  the  common  rat,  and  has  wings 
like  those  of  the  fox,  already  mentioned. 

A  much  more  extraordinary  rat,  called  the  fen-chou,  is  found  beyond 

f  Father  Avril's  Travels  to  discover  a  new  way  by  land  to  China;  p.  176. 
He  was  sent  by  Louis  XIV. 


THE  WALRUS  DESCRIBED  BY  THE  EMPEROR  KANG-HI.  465 

the  Tai-tong-kiang,  upon  the  coast  of  the  northern  sea,  which  is  al-  CHAP, 
most  always  frozen.    This  animal  is  shaped  like  a  rat ;  but  it  is  as  k^^^j 
large  as  an  elephant.    It  inhabits  obscure  caverns,  and  carefully  shuns 
the  light.  The  ivory  it  furnishes  is  as  white  as  that  procured  from  the 
elephant;  but  it  is  much  easier  to  be  worked,  and  never  splits. 

An  ancient  Chinese  book,  called  Chin-y-Mng,  speaks  of  this  animal 
in  the  following  words : — "  There  is  in  the  northern  extremities, 
amidst  the  snow  and  ice  which  cover  the  country,  a  cJwu  (a  rat) 
which  weighs  a  thousand  pounds:  its  flesh  is  very  good  for  those  who 
are  overheated.  Another  kind,  of  a  less  size,  is  also  mentioned,  which 
is  only  as  large  as  a  buffalo :  it  burrows  in  the  earth  like  a  mole,  flies 
from  the  light,  and  remains  almost  always  shut  up  in  its  subterranean 
retreats.  What  we  have  here  related  is  extracted  from  a  printed  col- 
lection of  observations,  by  the  celebrated  Emperor  Kang-hi  f ." 

*        *        *  * 

The  following  extract  is  from  the  Baron  Cuvier's  great  work,  and  is 
more  interesting  and  decisive,  from  these  mammoths  having  been  seen 
alive  upon  the  plains,  in  the  year  1571. 

Les  Chinois  nomment  les  comes  de  mamouth  tien-schu-ya  (dents  de 
tien-schu).  On  trouve  dans  la  grande  histoire  naturelle  Bun-zoo-gann- 
mu  composee  au  XVI.  siecle,  que  l'animal  nomme  tien-schu,  dont  il 
est  deja  parle  dans  l'ancien  ouvrage  (du  Ve.  siecle  avant  Jesus  Christ) 
sur  le  ceremonial,  entitule  Ly-Ki,  s'appelle  aussi  tyn-schu  ou  yn-schu, 
c'est  a  dire,  la  souris  qui  se  cache. 

f  Grosier's  China,  Vol.  I.  p.  568.  The  Chinese  have  long  known  Siberia  for  the 
sake  of  the  ivory,  furs,  and  hawks  and  falcons,  which  are  of  very  ancient  use.  It 
is  supposed  that  the  ancient  Germans  learned  falconry  from  the  Scythians.  See 
Strahlenberg,  p.  361. 

000 


466  LIVING  MAMMOTHS  IN  SIBERIA. 

CHAP.       II  se  tient  continuellement  dans  des  cavemes  souterraines ;  il  resem- 
XVI. 

v-**~v-^  ble  k  une  souris,  mais  egale  en  grandeur  un  boeuf  ou  un  buffle.  II  n'a 
point  de  queue,  sa  couleur  est  obscure.  II  est  tres  fort  et  se  creuse 
des  cavernes  dans  les  lieux  pleins  de  rochers  et  de  forets." 

Un  autre  ecrivain  cite  par  celui  la,  s'exprime  ainsi,  "  Le  tyn-schu 
ne  se  tient  que  dans  des  endroits  obscurs  et  non-frequentes.  II  meurt 
si  tot  qu'il  voit  les  rayons  du  soleil  ou  de  la  lune :  ses  pieds  sont  courts 
a  proportion  de  sa  taille,  ce  qui  fait  qu'il  marche  mal.  Sa  queue  est 
longue  d'une  aune  Chinoise.  Ses  yeux  sont  petits  et  son  cou  courbe. 
II  est  fort  stupide  et  paresseux. 

Lors  d'une  inondation  aux  environs  du  fleuve  Tan-schuann-tuy  (en 
Pannee  1571),  il  se  montra  beaucoup  de  tyn-schu  dans  laplaine,  ils  se 
nourissoient  des  racines  de  la  plante  fu-kia." 

Ces  details  curieux,  sont  extraits  d'une  note  communiquee  a  l'Aca- 
demie  de  Petersbourg  par  M.  Klaproth  et  imprimee  par  M.  Tilesius, 
dans  les  memoires  de  cette  Academie.  t.  V.  p.  409. 

M.  Klaproth  dit  aussi  dans  cette  note,  q'ayant  consulte  un  manu- 
scrit  mantscliu  il  y  trouva  ce  qui  suit:  w  L'animal  nomme  fin-schu,  ne 
se  trouve  que  dans  les  regions  froides,  aux  bords  du  fleuve  Tai-tunn- 
giann,  et  plus  au  nord  jusqu  a  la  mer  septentrionale.  II  resemble  a. 
une  souris  mais  est  aussi  grand  qu'un  elephant.  II  craint  la  lumiere 
et  se  tient  sous  terres  dans  des  grottes  obscures.  Ses  os  sont  blancs 
comme  de  l'ivoire,  se  laissent  ais^ment  travailler,  et  n'ont  point  de 
fissures.    Sa  chair  est  d'une  nature  froide,  et  fort  saine  *'." 

*        *        *  * 

The  Yakutes,  on  the  Lena,  are  formed  of  three  powerful  people : 


*  Cuvier,  p.  142. 


GREAT  ANTIQUITY  OF  WALRUS  FISHERIES.  46 

Mongols,  Tartars,  and  Manjours.  The  last  are  now,  since  1644,  upon 
the  throne  of  China.  All  the  three,  at  times,  have  invaded  and  con- 
quered that  empire :  nothing  is  therefore  more  probable,  or  rather  cer- 
tain, than  that  the  above  alludes  to  the  walrus,  and  the  river  Lena. 
See  Levesque,  Vol.  VII.  p.  437.  Neither  Mr.  Adams,  Pallas,  Strah- 
lenberg  nor  even  Levesque  make  mention  of  the  Lena  fishery  of  the 
walrus.  Levesque  alludes  to  the  fishery  at  Novaia  Zemlia,  of  this  ani- 
mal. Pallas,  Vol.  V.  p.  204,  says,  "  Lorsque  les  Samoiedes  sont  a  la 
proximite  des  cotes  de  la  mer,  ils  prennent  les  hippopotames  et  les 
veau  marins  qui  se  placent  sur  les  rochers  voisins  du  rivage,  ou  sur  la 
glace."  Pallas  describes  the  latter  but  makes  no  further  mention  of 
the  first,  which  were  no  doubt  walruses.  This  extract  is  from  the 
translation  of  his  original  German  work.  The  reader  is  requested  to 
compare  the  above  Chinese  history  with  the  first  five  pages  of  Chap. 
VI.  and  he  will  perceive  what  extraordinary  confusion  and  errors 
have  proceeded  from  calling  both  the  morse  and  the  elephants,  &c.  by 
the  name  of  mammoth.  It  thus  appears  that  the  Chinese  have  been 
acquainted  with  the  walrus  two  thousand  three  hundred  years ;  for 
there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  above  being  that  animal:  and  we  here 
perceive  that  the  fanciful  stories  about  this  animal  have  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  elephant  by  Strahlenberg,  Isbrandts  Ides,  Bell,  and  others, 
who  would  never  credit  the  Siberians,  who  told  them  that  mammoths 
are  amphibious  animals. 


ON  THE  NARWAL. 

The  narwal  or  narwhal,  monodon,  monoceros,  sea  unicorn,  or  sword 
fish,  is  sometimes  more  than  twenty  feet  long  from  the  mouth  to  the 
tail ;  and  at  once  distinguishable  from  every  other  species  of  whale, 
ooo  2 


468  THE  NARWAL  DESCRIBED. 

by  its  very  long  horn-like  tooth,  which  is  generally  straight,  of  a  white 
or  yellowish  white  colour,  spirally  wreathed  throughout  its  whole 
length,  and  gradually  tapers  to  a  sharp  point. 

The  horn  or  tooth  measures  from  six  to  ten  feet  in  length,  and  pro- 
ceeds from  a  socket  on  one  side  of  the  upper  jaw,  having  a  large  cavi- 
ty at  its  base  or  root,  running  through  the  greater  part  of  its  whole 
length.  In  young  ones,  and  sometimes  in  those  that  are  full  grown, 
there  are  two  teeth,  but  in  general  the  narwal  is  found  with  a  single 
tooth,  the  socket  of  the  other  being  closed,  or  at  most  but  obscurely 
visible ;  and  now  and  then  the  appearance  of  a  second  tooth,  in  an  ex- 
tremely small  state,  or  just  beginning  to  emerge,  is  perceptible,  as  if 
intended  by  nature  to  supply  the  place  of  the  other,  if  broken  or  cast. 

It  is  commonly  seen  in  the  small  open  or  unfrozen  spots,  to- 
wards the  coasts  of  the  northern  seas.  To  such  places  the  narwals  re- 
sort in  multitudes  for  the  conveniency  of  breathing,  and  because  they 
are  sure  to  find  near  the  shores  a  due  supply  of  food. 

They  are  taken  by  means  of  harpoons.  The  flesh  is  eaten  by  the 
Greenlanders  raw,  boiled,  and  dried;  the  intestines  and  oil  are  also 
used  as  food ;  the  tendons  make  good  thread :  and  the  teeth  serve  the 
purpose  of  hunting  horns,  as  well  as  that  of  building  tents  and  houses  *. 

There  are  several  narwals'  horns  in  the  museum  of  the  Royal  Col- 
lege of  Surgeons,  London ;  some  are  bent  like  a  cork-screw  pulled 
nearly  straight. 


The  narwals  are  caught  in  prodigious  numbers,  near  Kamtchatka  f , 
at  Weygat's  Straits  J,  and  in  most  parts  of  the  Arctic  seas. 


*  Vide  Ree's  Cyc.  "  Monodon."  f  Le  Biuyn,  Vol  I.  p.  138. 

X  Dc  la  Martiniere. 


A  THRONE  OF  NARWALS'  TEETH.— QUEEN  ELIZABETH. 

"  On  the  20th  August,  1728,  they  saw  forty  persons  on  board  four 
small  boats,  they  were  Tschudskois.  They  had  with  them  dried  fish, 
fox  skins,  and  four  narwal's  teeth,  which  they  exchanged  for  pins  and 
needles,  with  the  seamen.  These  people  said,  that  they  travel  with 
their  rein  deer  as  far  the  river  Kovyma,  and  one  of  them  said  he  had 
been  at  the  foot  of  Anadirski  f ."    *  .  *  * 

"  The  horns  are  sometimes  found  near  the  mouth  of  the  Lena,  and 
at  Kamtchatka.  I  have  seen  at  Tobolsk  one  of  these  twisted  horns 
which  are  often  put  in  the  shop  windows  of  druggists,  three  Russian 
ells  long  J." 

The  horn  of  the  narwal  has  been  found  in  the  earth,  near  the  rivers 
Indigerska  and  Anadir  §. 

*  *        *  * 

A  throne,  made  for  the  Danish  monarch,  is  said  to  be  still  preserved 
in  the  castle  of  Rosenberg,  composed  entirely  of  narwals'  teeth,  the 
material  being  anciently  esteemed  more  valuable  than  gold  J  | . 

*  *        *  * 

"  They  found  a  great  dead  fish,  round  like  a  porpoise,  twelve  feet 
long,  having  a  horn  five  feet  ten  inches  long,  growing  out  of  the  snout, 
wreathed,  and  straight  like  a  wax  taper;  and  might  be  thought  to  be 
a  sea-unicorn:  the  top  of  it  was  broken.  It  was  reserved  as  a  jewel 
by  Queen  Elizabeth's  commandment  in  her  wardrobe  of  robes,  and 
is  still  at  Windsor  to  be  seen**." 

f  Captain  Behring,  in  Harris,  II.  1020.  %  Strahlenberg,  p.  380. 

§  Encyc.  Brit.  "  Siberia."  Strahlenberg,  pp.  380,  405.    There  is  part  of  a  fos- 
sil narwal's  horn  in  the  museum  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields. 
||  Shaw's  Zoology,  Vol.  II.  part.  II.  p.  476. 

**  Sir  Martin Frobisher's  Voyage, in  1577.  Purchas,  Vol.  1.  917.  B.  Thesehorns, 
like  those  of  the  rhinoceros,  were  much  valued  as  supposed  antidotes  to  poison, 


ERRORS  RESPECTING  NUMBERS. 

*  *  *  * 

The  horns  of  the  narwal  have  contributed  their  share  to  increase 
the  misapprehensions  about  the  numbers  of  mammoths'  horns  said  to 
have  been  found.  They  are  about  the  same  length  as  those  of  the  ele- 
phant, are  found  in  the  earth,  in  the  same  regions,  and  are  spirally 
twisted. 


470 


CHAP. 
XVI. 


471 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


On  the  rapid  changes  which  the  surface  of  the  Earth  undergoes 
from  Floods,  Earthquakes,  and  other  Causes. 

The  object  of  this  chapter  is  to  endeavour  to  prove,  that,  in  conse-  CHAP. 

XVII 

quence  of  the  changes  to  which  the  surface  of  the  earth  is  subject  v^-^— ^. 
from  floods  of  rivers,  earthquakes,  and  other  accidents,  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  form  a  satisfactory  decision  as  to  the  causes  of  the  depths  or 
situations  in  which  the  fossil  bones  of  animals  have  been  buried. 


It  has  been  remarked  that  we  should  commence  our  researches  in 
geology,  with  subjecting  to  a  careful  examination  what  nature  pro- 
duces, as  it  were,  under  our  own  eyes ;  such  as  the  manifold  alterations 
that  have  taken  place  in  the  physiognomy  of  tracts  of  country,  almost 
within  the  memory  of  man.  How  scanty  are  the  genuine  observations 
we  possess  on  the  process  of  alluvial  deposition!  on  the  detritus  accu- 
mulated at  the  foot  of  mountains  by  means  of  the  decomposition  of 
various  rocks !  How  little  do  we  know  of  the  process  employed  to 
produce  petrifactions !  and  yet  many  of  these  will  admit  of  consider- 


INUNDATION  IN  PEMBROKESHIRE. 

able  elucidation,  by  applying  to  them  sound  principles  of  logic  and 
inductionf." 

*  *        *  * 

Camden,  out  of  Giraldus,  reports  that  a  part  of  Pembrokeshire  an- 
ciently ran  out,  in  the  form  of  a  promontory,  towards  Ireland ;  as  ap- 
pears by  a  speech  of  king  William  Rufus,  "  that  he  could  easily  with 
his  ships  make  a  bridge  over  the  sea,  so  that  he  might  pass  on  foot 
from  thence  into  Ireland."  This  tract  of  ground  being  all  buried  un- 
der deep  sands,  during  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Second,  was,  by  the 
violence  of  a  mighty  storm,  so  far  uncovered,  that  many  stumps  of 
great  trees  appeared  fastened  in  the  earth,  and  the  strokes  of  the  axe 
upon  them,  as  if  they  had  been  cut  but  yesterday;  so  that  it  now  made 
a  show  of  a  wood,  rather  than  a  strand.  Such  is  the  wonderful  change 
of  all  things  J. 

*  *        *  # 

A  vast  tract  of  land  at  the  eastern  mouth  of  the  Ganges,  (where  for- 
merly stood  the  city  of  Bangalla,  a  place  of  great  antiquity),  has  disap- 
peared in  a  short  period. 

Extensive  islands  are  formed  in  the  channel  of  the  Ganges  during 
an  interval  far  short  of  that  of  man's  life.  The  Cosa,  equal  to  the 
Rhine,  once  ran  by  Purneah ;  its  junction  now  is  forty-five  miles  higher 
up§. 

*  #         #  * 

"  The  evident  state  of  decay  prevailing  in  these  calcareous  moun- 


472 


f  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Geology."  J  Bishop  Hakewill's  Apology,  p.  34. 

§  RennelPs  Memoir,  pp.  57,  265. 


REMARKABLE  CHANGES  AT  HADRIA.  473 

tains,  the  divided  rocks  fronting  the  eminences,  and  the  whole  situa-  CHAP. 

XVII. 

tion,  render  it  probable  that  the  river  Belbec  anciently  flowed  through  v^^-^^,^ 
the  valley  of  Kara-Has,  which  is  at  present  watered  only  by  a  small 
stream  of  the  Souk;  and  though  the  former  now  runs  at  a  consider- 
able distance  from  this  place,  yet  its  current  is  so  powerful  and  rapid, 
that  it  may  in  past  ages  have  dissevered  the  heights  above  mentioned  f. 

*         *        *  * 

"  An  inundation  at  Dagenham,  in  Essex,  made  a  breach  in  the 
Thames  wall  one  hundred  yards  wide,  and  twenty  feet  deep  in  some 
places ;  by  which  means  a  number  of  trees  were  laid  bare,  which  had 
been  buried  for  many  ages :  one  was  a  large  oak,  with  most  of  its  bark 
and  some  of  its  head  and  roots:  the  others  were  alder,  or  horn-beam: 
one  had  the  sign  of  an  axe;  its  head  had  been  lopped  off.  Many  think 
they  have  lain  in  that  state  since  Noah's  flood,  but  I  think  them  to 
be  ruins  of  some  later  age  J." 

"  The  city  of  Atria,  also  called  Hadria,  we  are  certain,  was  formerly 
on  the  edge  of  the  coast;  it  is  now  fifteen  miles  and  a  half  distant  from 
the  nearest  part  of  the  mouth  of  the  Adige ;  and  the  extreme  point  of 
the  alluvial  promontory  is  farther  advanced  into  the  sea  six  miles  §." 

On  a  reconnu  a  Hadria,  actuellement  Adria,  l'existence  d'une  couche 
de  terre  parsemee  de  debris  de  poteries  Etrusques,  sans  melange  d'au- 
cun  ouvrage  de  fabrique  Romaine.     L'Etrusque  et  le  Romain  se 

t  Pallas.    Journey  in  the  Crimea.  $  Phil.  Trans.  No.  335. 

§  M.  Prony.    Supplement  to  Cuvier's  Theory  of  the  Earth. 

PP  P 


474  DEEP  SNOWS  AND  FLOODS  IN  SIBERIA. 

CHAP,    trouvent  meles  dans  une  couche  superieure,  sur  laquelle  on  a  decou- 
v.^-y-^'  vert  les  vestiges  d'un  theatre,  l'une  et  l'autre  couche  sont  fort  abaissees 
ail  dessous  du  sol  actuel  *. 

#  *        *  * 

The  Keta  falls  into  the  Oby,  and  winds  so  frequently  as  to  astonish 
the  traveller,  when  at  night  he  perceives  how  near  he  is  to  the  place 
he  left  at  noon.  The  natives  use  dogs  to  draw  their  sledges,  they  can- 
not use  horses,  the  snow  being  sometimes  a  fathom  deep  upon  the 
Oby  f .  The  borders  of  the  Tobol  are  low,  and  subject  to  be  overflow- 
ed in  the  spring,  yet  they  are  inhabited  by  Mahomedan  Tartars  and 
Russians 

#  *        #  * 

"  The  last  overflowing  of  the  Volga  formed  a  new  bank  of  seven 
feet  high  above  the  common  bed  of  the  river  §."  *    *  * 

When  the  snow  melts,  the  Oby,  Jenesai,  and  Lena,  swell  to  such  a 
degree,  as  to  become  torrents,  and  carry  away  with  them  considerable 
pieces  of  mountains  ||. 

#  #         #     \  * 

"  My  route  lay  along  the  Colyma,  Zysanska,  Omekon,  Okola,  and 
Indigerska,  all  of  of  which  are  large,  rapid,  dangerous,  and  almost  im- 

*  Cuvier. 

f  The  reader  may  judge,  by  the  quantity  of  snow,  what  immense  inundations  and 
rapid  torrents  must  take  place  in  spring.  Milton  (Historical  Works,  Vol.  II.  p. 
135)  mentions,  that  the  Jenesai,  on  the  western  side,  overflows  about  seventy 
leagues. 

J  Isbrants  Ides  §  Captain  Cochrane's  Journey,  p.  84. 

II  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  II.  658.    Strahlenberg,  p.  124. 


COINS,  &c.  FOUND  UNDER  ELEVEN  STRATA.  475 

passable  rivers.    It  is  but  twenty  years  since  the  present  centre  of  ^j^^- 
the  river  was  the  centre  of  the  city  of  Selinginskf . 

In  1788,,  near  Aix  in  Provence,  in  quarrying  limestone  of  a  deep 
grey,  and  soft,  but  which  hardens  in  the  air,  the  strata  were  separated 
from  each  other  by  a  bed  of  sand  mixed  with  clay.  After  the  first  ten 
beds  were  removed,  the  inferior  surface  of  the  eleventh,  at  forty-five 
feet  deep,  was  covered  with  shells :  the  stones  of  this  bed  being  re- 
moved, under  a  stratum  of  argillaceous  sand,  stumps  of  columns,  and 
fragments  of  stones  (like  the  quarry)  half  wrought,  were  found ;  and 
also  coins,  handles  of  hammers,  and  a  board  one  inch  thick  and  seven 
feet  long,  broken,  but  the  pieces  all  there,  and  could  be  joined :  it 
was  like  the  boards  used  by  quarry  men,  and  worn  in  the  same  man- 
ner. The  stones  had  not  been  changed,  but  the  pieces  of  wood  were 
changed  into  agate  J. 

*  *        *  -* 

"  There  was  found  in  the  year  1714,  upon  sinking  a  well  on  the 
top  of  the  hill,  near  Tobolsky,  sixty-four  fathoms  deep  in  the  earth,  an 
oaken  beam,  quite  black,  not  round,  but  shaped. 

It  happens  every  year  that  the  sea  swells  so  high  on  the  east  side 
of  Tartary,  in  the  bay  of  Lama,  near  the  habitations  of  the  Koraeiki 
and  Lamuti,  that  whales  and  other  great  sea  animals  are  carried  up  into 
several  rivers,  and,  when  the  water  falls,  are  left  upon  the  shore  §." 

*  *        *  * 
t  Capt.  Cochrane,  pp.  335,  473. 

%  Count  Bournon.    Phil.  Mag.  Vol.  LVI1.  p.  458.       §  Strahlenberg,  p.  405. 
P  PP  2 


ELEPHANTS'  BONES  BURIED  BY  AN  EARTHQUAKE. 

During  the  battle  gained  by  Hannibal  at  Thrasymene  there  was  an 
earthquake  which  overthrew  large  portions  of  many  cities  in  Italy, 
turned  rapid  rivers  out  of  their  course,  and  levelled  mountains  f. 

*        *        *  * 

Cunusium,  in  Apulia,  where  Hannibal  was  defeated,  and  five  of  his 
elephants  were  killed  J,  was  destroyed  by  an  earthquake  in  1694.  §. 

*  *        *  * 

Pisa  is  only  four  miles  from  the  sea;  its  port  was  anciently  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Arno.  According  to  Strabo,  the  Ausar  flowed  into  the 
Arno  at  Pisa,  though  it  now  falls  into  the  sea,  at  the  distance  of  at 
least  ten  miles  from  it.    Rees's  Cyc.  "  Pisa." 

*  *        *  * 

"  There  is  no  country  upon  the  globe  which  is  not  subject  to  earth- 
quakes. The  histories  of  all  times  record  an  immense  series  of  them. 
There  is  hardly  a  month,  week,  or  perhaps  a  single  day  unmarked  by 
their  devastations.  Seneca,  Strabo,  Callisthenes,  Pausanias,  Pliny, 
Thucydides,  and  others,  mention  a  variety  of  stupendous  effects  pro- 
duced by  earthquakes,  either  preceding  or  during  their  lifetimes ;  such 
as  the  separation  of  mountains,  the  appearance  and  disappearance  of 
islands,  the  destruction  of  a  great  many  cities,  some  of  which  were  en- 
tirely swallowed  up.  Under  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Gallienus,  A.  D. 
264,  the  greatest  part  of  Italy  was  shaken;  various  fissures  of  the 


476 


T  Livy,  B.  XXIT.  +  Livy,  B.  XXIII. 


§  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Canosa.  " 


NUMEROUS  EARTHQUAKES. 


477 


human  beings. 

In  the  year  365,  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  were  left  dry, 
but  the  tide  soon  returned  with  the  weight  of  an  immense  and  irresist- 
ible deluge,  which  was  severely  felt  on  the  coasts  of  Sicily,  Dalma- 
tia,  &c. 

During  the  reign  of  J ustinian,  each  year  is  marked  by  earthquakes : 
enormous  caverns  were  opened,  the  sea  alternately  advanced  and  re- 
created, a  mountain  was  torn  from  Libanus. 

In  the  kingdom  of  Naples,  near  the  Avernian  lake,  a  hill  rose  and 
was  formed  by  the  accession  of  ignited  matter,  in  one  night,  in  height 
one  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  English  feet  from  the 
level  of  the  sea. 

In  the  year  1783,  there  were,  in  Calabria,  five  hundred  and  one 
shocks,  of  the  first  degree;  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  of  the  second; 
three  hundred  and  seven  of  the  third  and  fourth  degrees;  besides  five 
great  commotions,  which  shook,  altered,  and  destroyed  the  whole  face 
of  the  country.  The  interruption  of  rivers,  in  consequence  of  the 
fall  of  hills  and  the  alteration  of  the  ground,  caused  unappreciable 
damage  f ." 


There  is  a  cause  of  change  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  which  has 
not,  as  far  as  the  writer  is  acquainted  with  the  subject,  been  sufficient- 
ly regarded :  the  most  obvious  causes  are  sometimes  the  last  which 
attract  notice.  It  is  dust.  The  operation  of  this  agent  is  so  slow  in 
its  progress,  that  it  does  not  excite  much  attention :  but,  on  reflection, 
it  will  be  found  a  powerful  one,  when  local  circumstances  favour  it. 
In  caves,  meadows,  marshes,  ponds,  rivers,  &c.  so  situated  as  to  retain 


* 


* 


f  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Earthquakes. ' 


478 


IMPORTANCE  OF  DUST  AND  SAND. 


CHAP,  the  dust  blown  into  them,  it  will  be  easily  allowed  that  a  sixteenth  of 
^~v-*-^  an  inch  in  depth  may  be  accumulated  in  one  year :  which  in  a  century 

would  be  six  inches.    Have  any  fossil  remains  been  found,  in  caverns, 

like  that  at  Kirkdale  or  in  other  places,  covered  with  the  accumulated 

dust  of  the  surrounding  soil? 

If  we  consider  the  more  rapid  effects  of  sand,  we  may  well  suppose 

that  an  oasis  in  Africa  is  the  top  of  a  hill,  standing  in  a  once  fertile 

country. 


Sand,  by  being  Mown  in,  has  probably  principally  contributed  to  fill 
up  the  branch  of  the  Oxus,  which  formerly  discharged  its  waters  into 
the  Caspian  sea  * ;  and  rivulets  must  often  change  their  courses  from 
this  cause. 

Many  more  instances  of  the  mutations  of  the  surface  might  be 
produced :  but  those  contained  in  this  chapter  are  deemed  sufficient 
to  show,  how  difficult  and  hazardous  it  is  to  judge  of  the  cause  of  fos- 
sil bones  having  been  buried  in  any  particular  place;  either  by  their 
depth,  or  by  the  strata  with  which  they  are  covered. 


*  It  has  been  said,  that  this  branch  of  the  Oxus  was  designedly  impeded,  from 
political  motives. 


479 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


Erroneous  Notions  respecting  Giants,  Mammoths,  Extinct  Spe- 
cies of  Quadrupeds,  and  Spiral  Tusks.  Concluding  Re- 
marks. 

GIANTS  AND  MAMMOTHS. 

The  wonder  and  mystery  connected  with  the  discovery  of  large  fos-  CHAP. 

XVIII 

sil  bones,  have  existed  from  the  earliest  times,  arising,  no  doubt,  from  v^-^^L, 
the  sciences  of  anatomy  and  osteology  not  having  been  studied  by  the 
ancients  *     The  merit  of  dissipating  these  errors  will  be  due  to  the 
laborious  and  valuable  accuracy  of  very  modern  authors,  and  to  the 
Baron  Cuvier  in  particular. 

The  bones  of  whales  and  elephants,  till  within  a  century  or  two, 
have  been  imagined  and  believed  to  be  the  remains  of  giants.  This 
notion  would  have  been  confirmed  in  the  minds  of  those  attached  to 
the  marvellous,  if  the  skeleton  of  the  child  with  the  head  of  an  elephant, 
born  at  Rome  in  the  year  209  before  Christ  f,  had  been  discovered  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  without  its  being  known  that  it  was  a  lusus 

*  "Augustus  adorned  his  palace  at  Caprese  with  the  huge  limbs  of  sea-monsters 
and  wild  beasts,  w  hich  some  affect  to  call  the  bones  of  giants,  and  the  arms  of  old 
heroes." — Suetonius,  LXXII. 

t  Catrou,  Vol.  III.  p.  362. 


GIANTS  AND  MAMMOTHS. 

natures.    The  particulars  of  the  resemblance  are  not  stated :  but  the 
accuracy  of  modern  naturalists  would  have  detected  the  truth. 

Since  the  introduction  of  the  equivocal  word  Mammoth,  giants  are 
no  longer  thought  of.  Whales,  elephants,  narwals,  mastodontes,  wal- 
ruses, and  even  oxen  or  buffaloes,  are  now  all  mammoths  f .  A  very 
few  instances  of  giants  will  suffice.  Sertorius  %,  being  in  Lybia,  found 
there  buried  the  body  of  Antaeus,  being  sixty  cubits  in  length. 

In  the  fourteenth  year  of  the  Emperor  Henry  II.  the  body  of  Pallas, 
the  companion  of  /Eneas,  as  it  was  thought,  was  dug  up  at  Rome.  It 
was  found  in  height  to  equal  the  walls  of  that  city  §. 

In  Asia  Minor  and  Syria  the  ancients  pretend  to  have  found  giants' 
bodies.  The  pretended  body  of  Geryon,  found  in  Upper  Lydia,  was 
probably  an  elephant's.  Pausanias  relates  that  great  horns,  (tusks,  no 
doubt),  are  often  discovered  there.  He  also  mentions  a  body  eleven  cu- 
bits in  length,  found  in  the  bed  of  the  Orontes,  near  Antioch||.  With 
respect  to  elephants'  bones,  in  particular,  the  mistakes  have  been  very 
numerous  4>. 

*        #        *  * 

"  We  very  justly  suspect,  (that  which  Suetonius  hath  not  spared  to 
write),  that  the  bones  of  huge  beasts  or  sea  monsters  both  have,  and 
still  do  pass  current  for  the  bones  of  giants.  When  Claudius  entered 
this  island,  he  brought  with  him  a  mighty  army  both  of  horse  and  foot, 
as  also  elephants,  whose  strangeness  then  amazed  the  Britons,  and 
whose  carcasses  falling  in  this  land,  their  late  bones  found,  no  doubt, 
have  bred  our  error,  being  supposed  to  be  of  men,  and  not  beasts.  A 
very  notable  story  to  this  purpose  we  have  recorded  by  Camerarius, 


f  See  Buffcn,  Vol.  XXVI J T.  p.  233;  and  Chap.  VI.  of  this  Vol. 

%  Plutarch.  §  Hakewill's  Apology,  p.  225. 

||  Cuvier,p.  152.  4.  Parkinson,  Vol.  III.  341. 


EXTINCT  SPECIES.  481 

who  reports  that  Francis  the  First,  king  of  France,  being  desirous  to  CHAP, 
know  the  truth  of  those  things  which  were  commonly  spread  touching 
the  strength  and  stature  of  Rouland,  nephew  of  Charlemagne,  caused 
his  sepulchre  to  be  opened,  wherein  his  bones  and  bow  were  found 
rotten,  but  his  armour  sound,  though  covered  with  rust ;  which  the 
king  commanding  to  be  scoured  off,  and  putting  it  upon  his  own 
body,  found  it  so  to  fit  him,  as,  thereby,  it  appeared  that  Rouland  ex- 
ceeded him  little  in  bigness  and  stature  of  body,  though  he  himself 
was  not  exceedingly  tall  or  stout  *." 


EXTINCT  SPECIES. 

It  has  frequently,  on  the  examination  of  fossil  bones,  been  pro- 
nounced that  the  species  to  which  they  belonged  are  extinct.  The  gene- 
ral reader  finds  himself  much  puzzled  to  apply  an  accurate  meaning  to 
the  word  species. 

The  ferocious  powerful  bull-dog,  and  the  gentle  diminutive  spaniel, 
are  of  the  same  species ;  as  are  likewise  the  Shetland  and  the  Flanders 
horses.  If  naturalists  meant  that  word  to  signify  that  animals  are  of 
different  species,  because  they  will  not  perpetuate  a  breed,  they  have 
not  always  used  it  in  that  decisive  sense;  and,  moreover,  it  is  now 
known  that  the  dog  and  the  wolf  will  breed,  and  that  hybrids  thus 
produced,  are  capable  of  having  offspring.  The  same  is  the  case  with 
the  horse  and  the  ass,  as  has  been  ascertained  in  New  Holland. 

"  Let  us  examine  two  elephants,  the  most  dissimilar  that  can  be  con- 
ceived, we  shall  not  discover  the  smallest  difference  in  the  number  and 
articulation  of  the  bones,  the  structure  of  the  teeth,  &c.f ' 


*  Bishop  Hakewill's  Apology,  p.  43.       f  Cuvier.  Theory  of  the  Earth,  p.  118. 

QQQ  i 


482  EXTINCT  SPECIES. 

XVUl'        There  are  two  species  of  living  elephants  described,  named  by 
v^-v-^y  Cuvier  Capensis  and  Indicus ;  for  the  full  description  of  which  the 
reader  is  referred  to  Chapter  XV . 

The  very  slight  and  imperfect  knowledge  which  we  possess  of  living 
elephants,  has  shown,  that  in  the  single  district  of  Tipperah,  there  are 
three  kinds. 

I.  Short-legged,  full-bodied,  thick-tusked,  strong  elephants. 

II.  Long-legged,  thin-bodied,  thin-tusked,  and  weaker.  Many  in- 
distinct varieties  are  produced  by  the  intermixture  of  these  two  breeds. 

III.  Males,  the  tusks  of  which  are  like  those  of  females,  and  some- 
times scarcely  protrude  beyond  the  flesh  of  that  part  of  the  proboscis 
which  covers  them ;  these  tusks  always  point  downwards. 

The  African  female  skeleton  in  the  museum  at  Paris  (the  ani- 
mal was  seventeen  years  in  the  menagerie  of  Louis  XIV.)  has  larger 
tusks  than  any  Indian  male  of  the  same  height. 

Le  Vaillant  speaks  of  a  race  of  elephants  which  never  have 
tusks. 

For  the  following  reasons  it  cannot,  on  our  imperfect  information,  be 
fairly  concluded  that  tlie  fossil  kinds  are  extinct. 

I.  There  are  perhaps  thirty  large  kingdoms  in  Africa,  the  living 
elephant  of  which  has  not  been  seen  by  naturalists. 

II.  There  are  many  parts  of  Hindostan,  particularly  the  North- 
ern, the  living  elephant  of  which  has  not  in  modern  times  been  brought 
to  Europe. 

III.  There  has  probably  never  been  brought  under  the  examina- 
tion of  naturalists  an  elephant  from  Malacca,  Sumatra,  Siampa,  Cambo- 
dia, Cochin  China,  Siam,  Laos,  Tonquin,  Yunnan,  Quangsi.  Pegu, 
Burmah,  Silhet,  Assam,  Tangut ;  most,  if  not  all  of  them,  were  subject 
to  the  Grand  Khans,  (Kublai  and  his  grandson,  Timur  Kaan),  whose 
great  armies  invaded  Siberia  for  thirty  years.    There  are  perhaps  fif- 


EXTINCT  SPECIES. 


483 


ty  extensive  countries  in  Africa  and  Asia,  which  possess  wild  ele-  CHAP. 
J  *  XVIII. 

phants ;  not  a  single  molar  tooth  of  which  has  ever  been  seen  by  Eu-  K^-y-^ 

ropeans. 

IV.  There  has  never  been  a  large  full  grown  male  elephant  brought 
to  England  or  France,  since  they  were  used  by  the  Romans,  for  wars 
and  sports:  those  now  brought  in  ships,  are  five  or  ten  years  old,  and 
do  not  live  to  attain  a  full  size.  Those  brought  for  the  purpose  of 
war,  were  probably  forty,  fifty,  or  more,  years  old.  Elephants  attain 
the  age  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  years,  and  perhaps,  in  modern 
times,  there  has  never  been  one  in  Europe  of  the  age  of  forty. 

V.  The  very  first  specimens  of  living  elephants,  not  from  Africa  or 
Hindostan,  which  have  come  under  the  eyes  of  naturalists,  are  from 
Ceylon;  and  the  jaws  of  two  elephants  were  found  to  differ  in  shape: 
also,  "  Monsieur  Camper  possede  une  machoire  de  Ceylon  qui  s'ecarte 
heaucoup  de  celle  de  l'espece  vivant  dont  nous  avons  parle  jus 
qu'ici  *." 

VI.  Among  the  grinders  from  Hindostan,  lately  presented  (in  1824) 
to  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  there  is  one  which  is  more  like  the 
African  specimens  than  any  hitherto  seen. 

VII.  If  we  confine  ourselves  strictly  to  the  definition  "  that  there  is 
no  difference  in  any  two  elephants  in  the  number  of  bones,  or  structure 
of  the  teeth,"  as  in  the  dog  and  the  horse,  then  are  there  more  than 
one  species  ?  Is  not  each  sort  only  a  variety  ? 

VIII.  The  curvature  of  the  tusks,  in  some  fossil  specimens,  has  been 
deemed  as  indicating  a  different  species;  and  yet  males  in  India,  with 
tusks  scarcely  beyond  the  flesh  of  the  proboscis,  and  always  pointing 
downwards,  and  females  in  Africa  with  tusks  larger  than  those  of  In- 
dian males  of  the  same  height,  are  not  called  different  species. 


*  Cuvier,  p.  185. 
Q  QQ2 


484 


ANCIENT  EGYPTIANS  DESCRIBED—ALEXANDRIA. 


CHAP.  Does  scientific  arrangement  admit  the  difference  in  the  surfaces  of 
^t-y-^L;  the  grinders  to  form  a  distinct  species;  and  at  the  same  time  exclude 
from  that  privilege  the  remarkable  contrariety  in  the  direction  of  the 
growth,  and  in  the  sizes,  both  of  the  tusks  of  the  males  and  of 
the  females?  Or,  does  the  number  of  nails  decide  the  species?  or  the 
shape  of  the  skull? 

The  numerous  and  unknown  kinds  of  living  elephants,  and  the 
little  additional  knowledge  acquired  by  modern  researches,  make 
it  appear  quite  unphilosophical  to  pronounce  fossil  remains  to  be 
of  extinct  species;  for  it  may,  with  great  apparent  probability,  be 
concluded  that  the  Romans  and  Moguls  did  not,  either  of  them,  pro- 
cure their  elephants  from  those  countries,  which  have  supplied  natural- 
ists with  the  specimens  from  which  that  inference  has  been  drawn. 

Senegal  may  probably  have  furnished  the  Carthaginians  with  ele- 
phants: Gaetulia  is,  however,  the  country  named. 

Egypt*  was  a  Roman  province  for  above  six  centuries  f,  during  the 

*  The  ancient  Egyptians  were  very  different  from  the  modern.  When  the 
Emperor  Adrian  was  in  Egypt,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the  consul  Servianus.  "  The 
Egyptians  are  an  inconstant,  light  people.  Those  who  worship  the  god  Serapis 
are  nevertheless  Christians,  and  those  who  call  themselves  Bishops,  are  also  vota- 
ries to  Serapis.  When  the  patriarch  of  Alexandria  comes  hither,  he  is  by  some 
obliged  to  worship  Serapis;  by  others,  Christ.  They  are  seditious,  vain,  and  in- 
jurious. No  one  lives  idle  in  Alexandria :  every  one  appears  to  follow  some  art, 
such  as  making  glass,  paper,  or  linen:  the  gouty  in  hand  or  foot  find  something 
that  they  can  work  at,  and  even  the  blind  are  employed.  I  have  restored  to  this 
city  its  ancient  privileges,  for  which  they  thanked  me  while  I  was  present;  but  I 
was  no  sooner  gone, than  they  spoke  a  thousand  things  against  me:  so  I  leave  them 
to  their  eggs  and  chickens,  which  how  they  hatch,  (that  is,  in  a  dunghill),  it  is  a 
shame  to  mention.  A  priest  gave  me  three  cups  of  changeable  colours:  I  dedi- 
cate them  to  you  and  my  sister  for  festival  days;  and  take  care  that  your  young- 
son  does  not  handle  them  too  roughly,  and  break  them." — Augustan  Hist.  Satur- 
ninus. 

t  From  the  conquest  by  Julius  Caesar,  B.  C.  48,  to  the  reduction  of  Egypt  by 
Amrou,  the  general  of  the  Caliph  Omar,  A.D.  640:  at  which  period  Alexandria 


INTERIOR  OF  AFRICA.  485 

rage  for  amphitheatrical  games*.    Augustus,  by  his  lieutenant  Pe-  ^S^' 
treius,  subdued  countries  much  to  the  south  of  Egypt ;  Nubia  and  the  ^>y^ 
kingdom  of  Meroe  submitted  to  the  Romans f. 

The  same  arguments  may  be  applied  to  induce  the  belief  that  it  is 
equally  hazardous  to  pronounce  the  fossil  rhinoceroses  to  have  belong- 
ed to  extinct  species;  from  the  epigrams  of  Martial,  we  find  that  the 
Romans  possessed  both  the  single  and  the  double  horned  kinds. 

It  must  be  particularly  borne  in  mind,  that  the  Romans  procured 
their  animals  from  the  interior  of  Africa,  and  by  land  from  northern 
India,  while  Europeans  now  bring  those  animals  from  the  coasts  of 
those  countries. 

It  has  been  said,  that,  "  the  hyaena,  elephant,  rhinoceros,  and  hip- 
popotamus, found  in  the  cave  at  Kirkdale,  belong  to  species  that  are 
now  extinct,  and  to  genera  that  exclusively  live  in  warm  climates ; 
and  which  are  now  found  associated  only  in  the  southern  part  of  Africa, 
near  the  Cape  J."  Were  we  to  seek  the  animals  agreeing  with  the 
Kirkdale  list,  they  might  be  found  forty  or  fifty  degrees  of  latitude 
nearer  than  the  Cape  is  to  Kirkdale:  either  at  Senegal,  Bornou,  Dar- 
Fur,  or  Abyssinia :  with  the  remarkable  exception  of  the  tiger,  which 


contained  four  thousand  palaces,  twelve  thousand  shops  for  the  sale  of  vegetable 
food,  forty  thousand  trihutary  Jews,  four  thousand  baths,  and  four  hundred  thea- 
tres or  places  of  amusement. — Letter  of  Amrou  to  Omar.  Africa,  south  of  Egypt, 
was  known  by  the  Romans  in  the  reigns  of  Augustus  and  Adrian  as  far  as  Lat.  14° 
South.— See  Esprit  des  Loix,  Liv.  XXI.  Ch.  X. 

*  The  Emperor  Aurelian,  in  his  letter  to  the  Senate,  says,  "  We  have  defeated, 
taken,  and  killed  Firmus,  the  Egyptian  robber,  (he  had  assumed  the  purple  in  the 
remains  of  Zenobia's  country) ;  there  is  no  more  now,  my  Romans,  to  be  afraid  of. 
The  tribute  of  Egypt,  which  that  wicked  robber  had  suspended,  will  now  come 
entire  to  you.  Entertain  yourselves  at  the  pastimes  and  shows  of  the  circus. — 
Bernard,  Vol.  II.  p.  304. 

f  See  Bruce,  Vol.  I.  p.  477.  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Abyssinia." 

X  Quarterly  Review,  JLVH.  p.  147. 


486  TIGERS  PECULIAR  TO  ASIA. 

CHAP,  is  supposed  to  be  "  peculiar  to  Asia*."  Adanson  relates,  that  there 
XVIII. 

^—v—w^  are  tigers  in  Senegal :  but  Chenier,  the  French  consul,  says,  that  what 
are  called  tigers  in  Morocco  are  only  leopards,  the  royal  tiger  is  there 
unknown  f . 

The  fossil  grinders  of  elephants  do  not  resemble  those  of  the  Bengal 
and  African  living  kinds ;  therefore,  it  cannot  be  admitted  that  the  ani- 
mals of  the  south  have  formerly  lived  in  the  north,  their  species  not 
being  perfectly  identical  J.  The  Nyl-gau  is  but  recently  known  to 
modern  Europe.  The  Om-Kergay,  mentioned  by  Burckhardt  §,  will 
probably  turn  out  to  be  an  animal  supposed  extinct.  Under  all  these 
circumstances,  is  it  not  in  such  cases  more  just  and  safe  to  say,  that 
"  the  true  analogous  living  animal  is  not  Jenown  \\"  than  to  pronounce 
it  extinct,  whether  it  be  reckoned  by  naturalists  a  species  or  a  variety  9 


SPIRAL  TUSKS. 


In  the  accounts  of  tusks,  or  horns,  as  they  are  generally  named, 
which  have  been  found  in  Siberia,  it  is  often  remarked,  that  they  were 
spiral.  This  word  has  not  a  precise  meaning;  and  in  the  inquiries 
made  by  Europeans,  among  the  Ostiacks  and  Tungusians,  regard- 
ing the  number  and  shape  of  the  tusks,  teeth,  or  horns;  the  word,  or 
even  the  description,  of  spiral,  will  apply  to  the  elephant,  the  morse, 
and  the  narwal;  tusks  or  horns  of  all  of  which  are  frequently  found 
in  a  fossil  state,  in  Siberia  j.. 

*  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Felis." 

f  Present  state  of  Morocco,  Eng.  Ed.  Vol.1,  p.  171.  The  first  tiger  seen  by 
the  Romans  was  presented  to  Augustus  by  the  Indian  Ambassadors. — Crevier, 
"Augustus."    See  p.  335  of  this  Vol.  t  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Bones." 

§  Quarterly  Review,  LVIII.  page  521.  ||  Cuvier. 

+  In  Chap.  XV.  it  has  been  shown  that  the  ivory  used  in  Britain,  in  eleven 


SPIRAL  TUSKS. 

In  Todd's  Edition  of  Johnson's  Dictionary  we  find, 
"  Spire. — 1.  A  curve  line;  any  thing  wreathed  or  contorted,  every 
wreath  being  in  a  different  plane;  a  curl;  a  twist;  a  wreath. 

2.  Any  thing  growing  up  taper ;  a  round  pyramid,  so  called,  per- 
haps, because  a  line  drawn  round  and  round  in  less  and  less  circles 
would  be  a  spire;  a  steeple. 

3.  The  top  or  uppermost  point. 

Spiral. — Curve;  winding;  circularly  involved  like  a  screw. 

The  European  travellers,  whose  inquiries  have  been  about  elephants 
and  spiral  tusks,  have  no  doubt  considered  all  the  replies  from  the 
Siberians  as  confirmatory  of  elephants'  tusks  being  meant ;  and  if  those 
natives  added  their  word  mammoth,  (with  them  the  morse),  no  foreign- 
er would  doubt  it.  Europeans  did  not  ever  think  of  inquiring  if  mam- 
moths were  amphibious,  but  treated  that  assertion  as  ignorance.  The 
errors  every  way  relating  to  the  whole  of  this  subject  are  endless. 
"  On  a  donne  souvent  pour  ivoire  malade  des  portions  de  dents 
canines  de  morse  dont  la  texture  est  naturellement  grenue.  II  y  en 
a  de  decrites  sous  ce  titre  dans  Daubenton  lui  meme  f." 

#         #  *  * 

Fossil  ivory  has  been  found  very  far  back  in  history.  There  is  no- 
thing to  wonder  at  from  this  circumstance,  when  we  see  how  very 

years,  required  thirty  thousand  tusks.  How  many  elephants  must  be  killed  an- 
nually to  supply  the  vast  empire  of  China!  It  may  be  presumed  that  there  are 
several  elephant  countries  adjoining  that  extensive  empire,  the  tusks  of  which 
have  never  been  brought  to  Europe.  If  there  be  a  race  of  elephants,  with  what 
are  called  spiral  tusks;  or  if  among  ordinary  animals  there  sometimes  are  found 
individuals  of  that  description,  they  would  no  doubt  be  carefully  preserved  for 
the  Grand  Khans,  or  as  animals  of  superior  value. 

f  Cuvier,  p.  49. 


488  BEASTS  KEPT  IN  THE  ENVIRONS  OF  CITIES. 

CHAP,  much  ivory  was  in  use  in  king  David's  and  Solomon's  reigns;  and 
vN--J^-0  there  can  be  no  reason  to  suppose  that  it  was  then  first  introduced. 

—See  Psalms,  XLV.  8.  1  Kings,  Ch.  X.  18.  Ch.  XXII.  39.  No 
fossil  ivory  can  be  mentioned  till  five  or  six  hundred  years  afterwards : 
Herodotus,  the  first  profane  historian,  having  written  his  work 
B.  C.  445. 

*         #         *  # 

Female  elephants,  or  young  ones,  rarely  occur  in  the  fossil  state. 
This  is  as  might  be  expected,  as  males  only  are  employed  in  battle. 
Females  led  the  way  for  Hannibal's  elephants,  when  he  found  some 
difficulty  in  crossing  the  Rhone.  They  are  employed  to  carry  loads, 
and  to  keep  the  males  tractable :  but  they  were  not  likely  to  be  found 
in  such  numbers  as  the  males.  Pyrrhus  lost  a  battle  at  Beneventum 
through  a  young  elephant  and  its  mother.  (See  p.  293). 

*        #         *  * 

We  learn,  from  a  passage  in  St.  Chrysostom,  that  the  beasts  intend- 
ed for  the  public  games  were  kept  in  the  environs  of  the  cities;  and 
Procopius  makes  particular  mention  of  a  spacious  place  in  Rome,  called 
the  Vivarium,  appropriated  to  that  use.  Agreeing  with  this  custom, 
we  have  seen  that  remains  have  been  found  at  Kew,  Brentford,  Ilford, 
and  Romford,  near  London.  At  Kirkdale,  near  York.  At  Walton, 
near  Colchester.  At  the  distance  of  three  leagues  from  Verona. 
Three  leagues  from  Placentia,  Sec.  This  is  too  systematical  to  be  ac- 
cidental. The  natural  deaths  of  the  animals,  at  these  places,  in  a  few 
centuries,  would  account  for  great  numbers  of  fossil  remains. 

The  reason  why  we  so  seldom  meet  with  the  mention  of  games  and 
spectacles  given  by  the  Romans,  is,  that  those  historians,  whose 


CITY  JOURNALS  IN  ROME.  489 

works  have  reached  us,  deemed  such  subjects  beneath  their  notice.  CHAP. 

XVIII. 

"  Few  events  during  the  second  consulship  of  Nero,  occurred  worthy  v— <L> 
commemoration,"  says  Tacitus,  "  unless  any  writer  liked  to  fill  pages 
in  magnifying  the  foundations  and  wooden  structure  of  the  new  am- 
phitheatre. But  to  the  dignity  of  the  Roman  people  it  belongs,  that, 
in  their  history,  should  be  inserted  illustrious  events  only;  and  in  the 
city  journals  such  descriptions  as  these  f." 

These  city  journals  were  posted  in  the  streets  of  Rome.  The  writer 
has  seen,  he  forgets  in  what  book,  a  copy  of  one,  which  contains  as  fol- 
lows :  "  This  morning,  Caius  Julius  Caesar  departed  for  Baetica  in 
South  Spain,  having,  since  his  appointment  to  that  government,  been 
detained  in  Rome  by  his  creditors." 

We  have  also  seen  that  it  was  the  policy  of  Caesar,  and  probably  of 
other  generals  not  to  diminish  their  fame  by  mentioning  the  merits 
of  the  elephants. 

*        *        *  * 


It  is  more  than  two  thousand  years  since  elephants  were  brought 
by  the  Greeks  and  Romans  into  Europe;  and  how  many  animals  since 
that  time  may  have  been,  in  different  parts  of  Europe,  exhibited  for  the 
sake  of  private  gain?  All  these  skeletons,  whatever  their  number  be, 
must  be  in  existence.  Those  brought  by  land  from  Asia,  before  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Cape,  were  probably  large. 

An  instance  has  scarcely  occurred  within  the  knowledge  of  the 
writer,  of  abstruse  theorists  ever  attributing  a  fossil  animal  to  this 
source.  The  number  is  possibly  greater  than  all  the  remains  that 
have  been  found.  The  same  reasoning  equally  applies  to  other 
animals. 


f  Tacitus,  B.  XIII.  Ch.29. 

RRR 


490  SITUATIONS  OF  FOSSIL  BONES. 

CHAP.  It  is  usual,  in  Siberia,  to  attribute  the  remains  of  elephants  to  the  in- 
XVIII. 

\^0-*s~^j  vasions  of  Tamerlane;  the  writer  does  not  claim  one  animal  in  Sibe- 
ria from  Timur-Bec's  wars  in  that  country,  but  from  those  of  Timur 
Kaan,  a  century  before  Tamerlane. 

After  perusing  Chapter  XVII.  and  the  following  description  of  the 
situations  in  which  fossil  remains  of  quadrupeds  have  generally  been 
found ;  it  will  not  appear  very  improbable  that  the  lapse  of  five  or  six 
hundred  years  in  Siberia,  and  of  fifteen  hundred  or  two  thousand  years 
in  Europe,  are  sufficient  to  have  placed  them  under  the  circumstances 
described  by  those  who  have  discovered  them. 


"  The  bones  of  species  (of  quadrupeds)  which  are,  apparently,  the 
same  with  those  that  still  exist  alive,  are  never  found  except  in  the 
very  latest  alluvial  depositions,  or  those  which  are  either  formed  on 
the  sides  of  rivers,  or  bottoms  of  ancient  lakes  and  marshes  now  dried 
up;  or  in  the  substance  of  beds  of  peat;  or  in  the  fissures  and  caverns 
of  certain  rocks ;  or  at  small  depths  below  the  present  surface,  in 
places  where  they  may  have  been  overwhelmed  by  debris,  or  even 
buried  by  man. 

Ancient  formations  may  have  been  transported  into  new  situations 
by  partial  inundations,  and  may  thus  have  covered  recent  formations 
containing  bones;  they  may  have  been  carried  over  them  by  debris 
so  as  to  surround  these  recent  bones,  and  may  have  mixed  with  them 
the  productions  of  the  ancient  sea.  The  true  character  of  their  re- 
positories has  almost  always  been  overlooked  or  misunderstood  by 
the  people,  who  found  these  bones,  not  being  aware  of  the  necessity 
to  be  observant  f ." 

t  Cuvier.    Theory  of  the  Earth,  p.  110. 


AFRICAN  AND  ASIATIC  BONES  MIXED 

*  #  *  * 

Remains  of  African  and  Asiatic  animals  have  been  found  in  the 
same  place — the  hippopotamus  and  tiger  at  Kirkdale — tigers  are  not 
known,  from  any  decisive  authority,  to  inhabit  Africa ;  nor  are  hippo- 
potami found  in  Asia. 

At  Walton,  near  Harwich,  the  hippopotamus,  elephant,  rhinoceros  % 
&c.  were  found  with  the  Irish  fossil  elk.  Here  we  have  animals  of 
hot  and  cold  countries  mixed  together.  (Could  the  high  prices  which 
the  Romans  gave  for  all  strange  animals  have  caused  the  extirpation 
of  the  elk  in  Ireland  ?  One  of  these  animals  having  been  found,  which 
had  been  wounded  by  an  arrow  or  spear,  it  is  no  longer  thought  to 
be  antediluvian  f .) 

The  rein-deer,  along  with  animals  of  hot  climates,  has  been  found 
near  Paris.  These  would,  indeed,  be  odd  effects  of  a  diluvian  opera- 
tion. With  respect  to  the  supposition,  that  England  and  France  were 
once  hot  countries;  how  do  the  elk  and  rein-deer  support  that  hypo- 
thesis ?  But  when  we  find  that  Severus  lived  at  York,  and  that  he  is 
known  to  have  possessed  tigers,  animals  so  rarely  exhibited,  and  that 
he  had  a  triumphal  ceremony  there,  and  that  all  the  other  bones  are 
precisely  of  such  animals  as  were  usually  employed  in  Italy  % ;  and, 
if  we  add  to  this  the  rein-deer  found  at  Paris,  where  the  Roman  Em- 
peror Gratian  had  a  park,  and  Scythian  hunting  friends  from  the 

*  Both  the  one  horned  and  the  two  horned  were  exhibited  by  the  Romans. 

f  Vast  numbers  have  recently  been  found  in  Ireland.  Seven  adults  and  a 
small  skeleton  in  one  place. — See  Mr.  Weaver's  letter  in  the  Philosophical  Trans- 
actions, 1S25,  Part  II* 

£  Severus  had  visited  Memphis,  the  labyrinth,  and  pyramids,  with  great  care, 
and  was  much  pleased  with  his  voyage  into  Egypt,  because  of  the  strangeness  of 
the  places  and  animals  which  he  saw  there. — Spartian. 

RRR2 


491 


492  LIVING  WILD  ELEPHANTS  IN  AMERICA. 

QHAP.    Volga ;  who  can  possibly  doubt  these  animals  being  of  Roman  origin  ? 
v^-v-^  Are  not  such  historical  facts  preferable  to  any  theory,  however  inge- 
nious? 

*        *         *  * 

Captain  Webb  found  some  fossil  bones  of  deer,  small  horse  and 
bear,  at  an  elevation  of  sixteen  thousand  feet,  in  the  Hemalaya  moun- 
tains f .  The  musk  deer  and  the  bear  are  natives  of  those  regions ; 
and  the  horse  called  Tanyan,  a  small  species,  it  is  well  known,  is  like- 
wise a  native  of  Thibet  J.  There  seems  nothing  more  extraordinary 
in  this,  than  there  would  be  in  finding  fossil  remains  of  wolves  on  the 
highest  mountains  in  Britain,  and  of  which  in  that  island  there  must 
be  great  numbers ;  they  may  possibly  sometimes  have  been  mistaken., 
by  cursory  observers,  for  hyaenas. 

-*        *        *  * 

With  regard  to  the  mastodontes  found  with  the  other  animal  re- 
mains in  Europe,  if  the  arguments  here  offered  be  not  overturned, 
the  natural  inference  will  be,  that  mastodontes  are  a  species  of  ele- 
phant; and  as  likely  not  to  be  extinct  as  any  of  the  other  animals  §. 

t  Quarterly  Review,  LVII.  p.  156. 

$  See  Rees's  Cyc.  "  Thibet."    Rennell's  Memoir,  p.  2*25. 

§  Since  writing-  the  above,  there  appears  good  reason  to  suppose  that  the  most 
hopeless  of  the  extinct  elephants  is  now  in  existence.  "  Commenced  preparations 
for  my  departure  from  Choco.  In  the  evening  made  an  excursion  with  Senor 
Zereso,  Don  Luis,  and  others,  to  a  small  hill  commanding-  the  town  ;  when,  the 
evening  being  tolerable,  we  had  a  fine  view  of  a  ridge  of  mountains,  which  divides 
this  valley  from  the  Pacific  Ocean:  their  summits  are  entirely  covered  with  snow. 
The  smoke  of  a  volcano  is  to  be  seen,  which  is  situated  on  the  other  side  of  the 
summit  of  the  mountains.  From  a  small  chain  of  hills,  near  to  this  range  of 
mountains,  with  a  good  glass,  have  been  seen  numbers  of  the  carnivorous  elephants, 

• 


A  FOSSIL  ELEPHANT  A  WEEK  OLD.  493 

A  full  sized  elephant  is  as  large  as  any  of  the  mastodontes  found  in  CjE^I*. 
America.  v-^-v-^ 

*  *        *  * 

Remains  of  elephants  and  other  animals  are  sometimes  met  with  in 
places  where  it  is  difficult  to  account  for  them  by  the  vicinity  of  a 
Roman  camp  or  city;  but  in  whatever  country  amphitheatres  have 
been  in  use,  the  beasts  intended  for  the  spectacles  must  have  been 
conveyed  from  one  place  to  another  in  all  possible  directions. 

*  *        *  * 

One  elephant  has  been  found  in  Italy  only  about  a  week  old  f .  As 
females  attended  the  armies,  and  might  be  pregnant  when  caught,  as 
elephants  will  breed  in  the  tamed  state,  and  as  Domitian  had  a  herd 
of  them  in  the  Rutulian  forest,  this  is  a  very  natural  circumstance. 

«  *        *  * 

The  roving  life  of  the  Mongols,  and  their  passion  for  the  chase,  have 
contributed  to  spread  fossil  bones.  "  From  the  Danube  to  the  rising 
sun  they  have  divided  Scythia  amongst  them,  every  captain  knowing  the 
bounds  of  his  pasture;  in  the  winter,  descending  southward,  and  in  the 


feeding  on  the  plains  which  skirt  these  frozen  regions.  Their  enormous  teeth 
have  occasionally  been  seen:  but  no  one  has  yet  succeeded  in  killing  one  of  these 
animals,  or,  indeed,  in  getting  near  to  them.  There  are  great  quantities  of  wild 
cattle  in  these  plains,  to  kill  which  the  Indians  sometimes  make  excursions.  This 
chain  of  mountains  runs  north-east  and  south-west." — Captain  C.  S.  Cochrane's 
Journal  in  Columbia,  Vol.  II.  p.  390. 

f  Quarterly  Review,  LVII.  p.  153. 


RHINOCEROS  SENT  A  GREAT  DISTANCE. 

summer,  ascending  northward*."  The  Mongols  pass  the  summer  on 
the  banks  of  rivers:  the  winter  at  the  foot  of  hills.  In  all  times,  and 
in  all  countries,  they  have  gone  northward  during  summer  f . 

*  *         *  * 

Rhinoceroses  have  been  sent  in  presents  to  great  distances.  "  The 
barbarians  of  the  south,  called  Hoam-tchi,  or  yellow  fingers,  sent  to 
Hiao-Pim-Hoam-Ti,  great  grandson  of  Yu-en-ti,  a  rhinoceros  from  the 
distance  of  thirty  thousand  li,  in  the  year  two  of  the  Christian 
era  J."  This  present  was  probably  from  Kanoge;  the  Punjab  abounds 
with  rhinoceroses.  The  distance  by  land  would  be  very  great,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  mountains,  but  could  not  be  near  so  considerable  as 
that  mentioned :  or  probably  the  ancient  measure  may  have  differed 
from  the  modern.  The  Mogul  Emperor  Akbar  gave  away,  daily,  ele- 
phants, horses,  &c.  to  a  great  amount  §. 

*  *        *  * 

One  of  the  most  considerable  historical  convulsions,  which  may,  very 
reasonably,  be  supposed  to  have  supplied  Siberia  with  a  great  number 
of  elephants,  is  the  expulsion  of  the  Mongols  from  China,  A.  D.  1369. 
Not  one  syllable  of  the  particulars  of  that  great  event  has  been  met 
with.  But  when  we  contemplate  the  mighty  establishments  of  the 
Grand  Khan's  court,  and  of  his  numerous  empresses  and  children, 
whose  travelling  carriages  were  drawn  by  elephants ;  a  multitude  of 

*  Rubruquis.    Purchas,  Vol.  I.  p.  413. 

f  Du  Halde,  Vol.  II.  p.  264.    De  Guines,  Vol.  III.  p.  146. 

t  De  Guines,  Vol.  I.  p.  29. 

§  Ayeen  Akbery,  Vol.  I.  p.  221. 


MATHEMATICIANS  IN  SIBERIA.  495 

those  beasts  probably  accompanied  them,  when  they  were  driven  into  CHAP, 
their  original  country.  As  to  numbers,  this  source  alone  might  possi-  \^*~y~«*s 
bly  account  for  all  the  fossil  remains*.  In  the  terror,  confusion,  flight, 
and  pursuit  during  this  disastrous  catastrophe,  some  elephants  may 
have  escaped  from  their  guides,  and  have  wandered  in  Siberia,  till  ac- 
cident or  age  destroyed  them :  it  has  been  shown  that  they  bear  cold 
which  kills  men  and  horses.  Horses  feed  in  the  open  air  all  the  winter 
by  the  Lena.  Elephants  would  find  plenty  of  stimulating  food  on  the 
banks  of  that  river,  cedars,  larches,  pines,  &c.  this  sustenance  might 
encourage  the  growth  of  the  hair,  with  which  we  find  nature  has  sup- 
plied themf .  Whenever  and  wherever  such  animals  died,  the  sudden 
and  rapid  floods  would  carry  them,  as  well  as  trees  and  the  broken 
banks  of  rivers,  down  the  stream. 

The  original  Mongol  court  was  near  Lake  Baikal.  We  find  that  the 
Emperors  of  that  race  in  Hindostan  were  attended,  in  their  journies, 
by  rhinoceroses  J,  and  all  kinds  of  beasts,  for  combating  and  parade. — 
(See  Chap  VIII).  And  to  these  customs  and  accidents  it  is  not  doing 
any  violence  to  probability  to  attribute  the  origin  of  the  rhinoceroses 
and  elephants  that  have  been  found  to  the  north  of  Lake  Baikal,  and 
at  the  mouths  of  the  rivers.  In  the  year  1290,  Kublai  sent  mathema- 
ticians into  Siberia,  to  latitude  55°,  and  it  is  highly  probable,  that  they 
were  accompanied  by  many  elephants  §.     We  have  seen,  that  the 

*  Marco  Polo  says,  Kublai  had  five  thousand  elephants.  About  thirty  years 
afterwards,  Odoricus  says,  there  were  thirteen  thousand.  Maundevile  shows,  that 
the  number  must  have  been  very  great  when  he  was  at  Pekin.  Shah  Rohk's  am- 
bassadors, in  their  style,  guess  them  to  amount  to  fifty  thousand. 

f  On  this  subject,  see  page  446. 

%  Many  countries,  possessed  by  Kublai  and  his  descendants,  contained  the  one- 
horned  rhinoceros.  Sumatra,  where  the  two-horned  inhabits,  partly  belonged  to 
Kublai,  and  from  which  rarities  were  sent  to  him. — See  Ch.  II. 

§  See  Ch.  II.  p.  67. 


496  LARGE  ARMIES  KEPT  IN  SIBERIA. 

CHAP.  Grand  Khan  sent  often  to  an  island,  and  to  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Sea, 
XVIII. 

^— —v- for  his  falcons ;  and  that  he  had  elephants  with  him  on  his  hunting 
parties  (see  Chap.  II  ) ;  and  also  vast  numbers  of  ger-falcons  and  pere- 
grine falcons,  and  ten  thousand  falconers.  It  is  therefore  very  likely, 
that  elephants  accompanied  the  persons  who  went  to  those  regions, 
both  for  their  safety  and  convenience.  That  territory,  Yakutsk,  is, 
upon  Dela  Croix's  map,  named  northern  Turquestan ;  and  we  find  that 
Marco  Polo  was  correctly  acquainted  with  the  customs  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Yakutsk.  We  have  also  seen,  in  Chapter  III.  that  the  Grand 
Khan  of  the  Turks  had  elephants,  and  conquered  to  the  frozen  ocean  in 
the  sixth  century  *.  In  Chap.  V.  and  Notes  on  the  Map,  2S  and  29,  it  is 
shown  that  Kublai's  and  Timur  Kaan's  wars,  and  invasions  of  Siberia, 
lasted  near  thirty  years ;  that  there  were  scarcely  any  other  wars ;  that 
the  dispute  was  for  the  empire;  that  Kublai  always  employed  elephants 
in  his  wars  since  the  battle  with  the  king  of  Mien  and  Bangalla;  that  he 
possessed  five  thousand  elephants ;  and  that  Timur  Kaan  was  viceroy  of 
the  elephant  provinces.  Such  is  the  paucity  of  materials  with  which  to 
compose  a  history  or  description  of  these  wars  and  revolutions,  that  it 
would  often  be  as  difficult  to  prove  that  horses  were  employed,  as  it  is 
that  elephants  were  used  in  their  invasions.  During  the  long  rebel- 
lion of  Kaidou  we  find  that  the  Emperor  Timur  Kaan  was  always 
obliged  to  keep  numerous  armies  in  the  west  of  Siberia  f,  which  accounts 

*  These  distant  regions  possess  more  attractions  than  are  generally  known: 
they  afford  the  most  valuable  of  the  Siberian  furs;  (Abul  Ghazi,  notes,  Vol.  II,  p. 
639) ;  mammoths  (amphibious  animals),  whose  teeth  are  preferred  to  gold  by  the 
Turks  and  Persians  for  their  dagger-handles;  (MuschkinPuschkin,  in  Pere  Avril's 
Travels,  p.  176);  and  the  best  falcons,  the  means  of  food  and  enjoyment  to  the 
Mongol  Emperors  (see  Ch.  II.)  and  to  the  whole  country.  No  Tartar  hut  but  has 
its  hawk  or  falcon.  (At  Astracan).  Olearius,  p.  132. 
f  Marco  Polo,  p.  74 1,  note  1499. 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

satisfactorily  for  the  number  of  elephants'  remains  found  in  those 
quarters. 

*         *        *  * 

The  important  sciences  of  geology  and  natural  history  have  not  yet 
by  any  means  attained  that  perfection  and  certainty  to  which  further 
researches  will  undoubtedly  lead.  If  these  historical  notes  be  ad- 
mitted as  a  proof  that  naturalists  have  been,  with  regard  to  particular 
animals,  mistaken,  still  there  is  an  ample  field  remaining  for  specula- 
tion and  discoveries  respecting  the  remains  of  others.  Nor  would  a 
conclusion  in  favour  of  this  disquisition  reflect  discredit  on  any  for- 
mer opinions ;  on  the  contrary,  it  would  prove  how  ingenious  such 
authors  must  have  been,  to  gain  converts  to  their  conjectures.  It 
does  not  appear  that  any  naturalist  has  examined  history  in  order 
to  account  for  these  bones;  but,  had  such  been  the  case,  is  it  possible 
to  suppose  that  any  one  of  the  arguments  hitherto  held  with  regard  to 
these  particular  remains  of  animals,  could,  in  their  minds,  have  pre- 
vailed against  such  numerous  proofs  as  are  here  exhibited  of  their  more 
probable  origin? 

In  those  cases,  where  history  was  procurable,  the  conviction  seems 
irresistible.  In  other  instances,  when  we  consider  how  imperfect  the 
Roman  history  is,  and  how  defective  in  recording  the  details  of  such 
a  subject  as  is  here  treated  of:  that  the  Circensian  and  Amphitheatri- 
cal  games,  and  the  Sacrifices,  were  continued  for  a  series  of  centuries ; 
that  the  amphitheatres  of  turf,  and  nearly  all  of  those  construct- 
ed of  wood,  cannot  be  traced  or  known:  that  with  regard  to  Britain 
and  Siberia,  not  one  word  of  native  history  exists,  relating  to  those  pe- 
riods which  are  here  considered;  yet,  that  the  constructive  evidence 
is,  notwithstanding,  so  strong,  that,  compared  with  the  difficulties  of  a 


EXTENT  OF  THE  MONGOL  WARS. 

diluvian  origin,  the  hypothesis  of  a  rotary  axis,  or  of  an  inherent  heat 
in  the  earth  independently  of  the  sun,  it  surely  claims  a  decided  pre- 
ference, as  offering  proofs  that  do  not  violate  the  common  actions  of 
society.  The  extensive  space  in  which  these  bones  are  spread  by  the 
Mongols,  must  not  surprise  us,  when  we  find  that  the  Grand  Khan 
Octai  with  a  mighty  force  was  carrying  on  a  war  in  China,  while  his 
nephew  was  trampling  Russia,  Poland,  &c.  under  foot  with  six  hun- 
dred thousand  cavalry*. 

TO  CONCLUDE. 

The  Romans  and  Mongols  have  subdued  Europe  and  Asia:  and, 
in  their  wars,  amusements,  and  customs,  they  have  employed  certain 
animals,  the  fossil  remains  of  exactly  the  same  kinds  of  which  are  found 
faithful  to  the  residences  and  tracks  of  those  conquerors.  To  resist  this 
probable  origin  with  success,  it  must  be  shown  that,  by  the  laws,  or  by 
the  casualties  of  nature,  the  fossil  remains  of  the  very  same  kinds  of  ani- 
mals, mixed  together  in  the  variety  of  menagerie  collections,  some  pe- 
culiar to  Africa,  some  peculiar  to  Asia;  some  natives  of  torrid  cli- 
mates, some  suitable  to  the  coldest  regions,  are  found  in  the  very 
places  where  we  might  have  expected  the  Roman  and  Mongol  bones. 
It  must  be  recollected  that  the  appearance  of  those  bones,  found  in 
many  parts  of  Europe,  induces  a  belief  that  the  animals  had  been  alive 
on  the  spot,  and  had  met  with  violent  deaths. 

The  subject  of  this  volume  being  of  high  interest  to  geography, 
natural  history  and  geology,  it  is  to  be  lamented,  that  it  has 
not  been  investigated  by  some  one  better  qualified  in  the  classical 


*  P.  de  la  Croix,  pp.  385,  387.    See  Chap.  V.  of  this  Volum  e. 


CONCLUSION.  499 

and  oriental  languages,  and  other  requisite  acquirements,  to  do  it  ^vhF 
full  justice:  the  author  professing  no  other  attainments  than  those  v^-v^^ 
of  a  general  reader,  who  has  passed  most  of  the  leisure  hours  af- 
forded by  a  commercial  life,  in  his  library;   and  this  being  his  first 
literary  attempt. 


500 


MAP  OF  ASIA. 

Explanation  of  the  Flags  upon  the  Map;  showing  the  Conquests 
of  the  Mongols;  and  some  of  the  Places  of  Residence  of  the 
Family  of  Genghis  Khan, 

Genghis  KHAN  vanquished  the  preceding  Grand  Khan,  A.  D. 
1202;  and  in  the  year  1280,  the  Mongol  empire,  the  largest  that  ever 
was  known,  had  attained  its  greatest  extent,  and  was  divided  as 
follows : 

Kublai  was  the  Grand  Khan.  He  was  the  grandson  of  Genghis; 
he  resided  at  Pekin,  called  also  Cambalek,  Khanbalig,  and  Cam- 
balu.  He  governed  all  China;  all  the  countries  between  Hindoostan 
and  China  down  to  the  ocean ;  part  of  Sumatra ;  Thibet;  Tangut; 
Great  Tartary^rom  the  country  of  the  Ighurs  to  the  sea  of  Japan,  in- 
cluding Corea;  the  eastern  division  of  Siberia,  to  the  Arctic  sea  and 
the  straits  of  Anian  (Behring's). 

Kaidou,  great  grandson  of  Genghis,  governed  central  Siberia,  and 
some  of  the  countries  in  the  southern  neighbourhood  of  the  little  Altai 
mountains. 

Sheibani  (grandson  of  Genghis)  or  one  of  his  descendants,  resided 
at  Genghidin  or  Sibir  (near  Tobolsk) ;  and  governed  the  western  divi- 
sion of  Siberia,  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  Yaik  which  runs  into  the 
Caspian  sea. 


MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED.  501 

Batou's  grandson,  consequently  a  great-great-grandson  of  Genghis, 
governed  Capschac,  and  resided  at  Serai  on  the  Volga.  This  empire 
comprised  Little  Tartary,  (the  Crimea),  and  was  bounded  on  the  east 
by  the  river  Yaik,  on  the  west  by  the  river  Don,  on  the  south  by  the 
Caucasus  mountains,  and  on  the  north  by  the  Arctic  sea. — All  Russia 
was  tributary. 

Zagatai's  (son  of  Genghis)  descendant  reigned  over  Zagatai;  which 
comprised  Transoxiana,  or  Maverulnere  or  Turan,  the  country  of  the 
Ighurs,  Cashgar,  the  kingdom  of  Badachshan,  and  the  city  of  Balk 
or  Balich.    He  resided  at  Cashgar. 

Abaca,  (son  of  Hulacou)  great  grandson  of  Genghis,  reigned  over 
Persia  to  the  Indus;  Syria;  Mesopotamia,  (Bagdat) ;  Chaldea  ;  and 
Anatolia.    He  resided  at  Maraga. 

Viceroys,  always  near  relations  of  the  reigning  sovereigns,  were 
spread  over  all  the  above  countries,  to  govern  subordinate  districts  as 
extensive  as  European  monarchies :  few  particulars  are  known  of  the 
viceroy  al  ties. 

EXPLANATION  OF  THE  FLAGS. 

Tamerlane  passed  this  place  with  his  army,  and  erected  obelisks;    FLAG  1. 
and  near  which  the  great  Ogus  Khan  (VII.  century  B.  C.)  had  his 
residence.    Ogus,  so  famous  in  the  East,  and  his  successors,  were  pro- 
bably the  Tartars,  who  waged  war  with  China,  and  caused  the  wall  to 
be  built.— DuHalde,  Vol.  I.  p.  164,  &c.  and  pp.  88,  89  of  this  Volume. 

The  first  residence  of  the  Mongol  Siberian  princes  in  the  western  FLAG  2. 
division,  was  on  the  river  Tura,  where  Tiumen  now  stands;  it  was 
called,  in  honour  of  the  Grand  Khan,  Genghidin,  and  is  still  called  so 
by  the  Tartars.  —Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  60.    This  Vol.  p.  199. 

The  Mongols  afterwards  quitted  Genghidin,  and  built  the  city  of  FLAG  3. 
Iska,  which  afterwards  got  the  name  of  Sibir.    It  is  near  Tobolsk. — 
Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  60. 


502  MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED. 

FLAG  4.  Sheibani,  the  brother  of  Batou,  at  first  possessed  the  countries 
about  the  Yaik,  where  he  founded  the  famous  golden  horde ;  which 
territories  were  ceded  to  him  by  his  brother,  and  from  whence  he 
made  the  conquests  in  Siberia.  The  remains  of  Saratchinsk  on  the 
Yaik  are  still  visible. — Tooke,  Vol.  II.  pp.  17,  60;  Levesque,  Vol. 
VIII.  p.  268 ;  and  Vol.  VII.  p.  192.    This  Vol.  p.  199. 

FLAG  5.  Mr.  Adams  found  the  ruins  of  ancient  forts  at  the  mouth  of  the  Le- 
na, and  mutilated  remains  of  grotesque  figures. 

To  the  shores  and  islands  of  this  place  the  Grand  Khan  always  sent 
for  his  ger  falcons  and  peregrine  falcons  :  he  kept  10,000  falconers. — 
See  Marco  Polo,  Ch.  L.,  where  it  is  mentioned  that  the  natives  ride 
upon  rein-deer;  and  this  fact  is  confirmed  by  Mr.  Adams,  in  the 
year  1805.    See  this  Vol.  p.  250. 

The  Yakutes  were  driven  to  the  Frozen  Ocean  by  the  Mongols. — 
Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  80. 

These  regions,  near  the  mouths  of  the  Lena  and  Indigerska,  are  called, 
in  De  la  Croix's  map  to  Sherefeddin,  "  Northern  Turquestan." — See 
this  Vol.  p.  209. 

FLAG  6.  Birth  place  of  Genghis  Khan. — See  Captain  Cochrane's  Pedestrian 
Journey,  p.  489;  and  Chap.  I.  of  this  volume,  first  page. 

FLAG  7.  Tomb  of  Genghis  Khan. — See  Strahlenberg's  Map,  and  Abul 
Ghazi,  Vol.  I.  p.  145.  This  Vol.  p.  43.  Hereabouts  Kublai  and  other 
Mogul  princes  were  also  interred. — See  Marco  Polo,  p.  199,  note. 

FLAG  8.  Shang-tu,  Kublai  Khan's  summer  palace. — See  Chaunaiman  in  Du 
Halde's  Map ;  and  Marco  Polo,  p.  250.    This  Vol.  p.  75. 

FLAG  9.      Caracorum.    The  capital  of  the  Grand  Khans. — See  pp.  49 — 189. 

FLAG  10.  Olougyourt.  Residence  of  the  Grand  Khan  Octai ;  capital  of  the 
Grand  Khan  Keyouc— Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  389.  This  Vol.  pp. 
44,  189,  211. 

FLAG  11.      Great  battle  between  Kublai  and  Nayan  (eight  hundred  and  sixty 


MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED.  503 

thousand  troops  engaged).  The  Grand  Khan  being  in  a  castle, 
placed  upon  the  backs  of  four  elephants — See  Astley's  Collection, 
Vol.  JV.  p.  606.  Marco  Polo,  p.  262.    This  Vol.  p.  59. 

Cambalec,  or  Cambalu,  or  Pekin.    The  capital  of  the  Grand  FLAG  12. 
Khans  from  the  accession  of  Kublai  till  the  expulsion  of  the  Mongols 
from  China.  A.  D.  1369. 

The  Don  was  the  Mongol  Frontier.  FLAG  13. 

"  We  arrived  at  the  banks  of  the  Tanais,  which  divides  Asia  from 
Europe.  At  the  place  where  we  arrived,  Batou  and  Sartach  had 
caused  cottages  to  be  built  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river,  for  a  com- 
pany of  Russians  to  dwell  in,  that  they  might  transport  ambassadors 
and  merchants  in  ferry  boats.  When  we  demanded  horses  of  the 
Russians,  they  replied  that  they  had  a  privilege  from  Batou,  whereby 
they  were  bound  only  to  ferry  goers  and  comers ;  and  that  they  re- 
ceived great  sums  from  merchants,  even  for  that.  This  river  is  the 
limit  of  the  east  part  of  Russia. — William  De  Rubruquis,  p.  564;  this 
Vol.  p.  238. 

Serai,  the  capital  of  the  Empire  of  Capshac,  was  built  by  Batou,  FLAG  14. 
grandson  of  Genghis,  and  successor  to  his  father  Touschi,  the  first 
Mongol  sovereign  of  Capshac:  it  became  a  magnificent  city.  See 
page  46  of  this  Volume. 

We  found  Sartach's  court  within  three  days'  journey  of  the  Volga.   FLAG  15. 
He  is  the  son  of  Batou,  his  court  was  very  great.    He  had  six  wives. 
His  eldest  son  has  three  wives.    Every  one  of  these  women  hath  a 
great  house  and  above  two  hundred  carts. — William  De  Rubruquis, 
p.  564 ;  this  Vol.  p.  239. 

Near  Kasimof,  on  the  Oka,  is  a  Tartarian  suburb,  the  ruins  of  a  FLAG  16. 
lofty  round  tower,  an  oratory  or  chapel,  the  remains  of  a  palace  and 
a  mausoleum;  all  constructed  of  brick  or  burnt  tiles.    It  was  a  popu- 
lous Tartar  town  in  1685.— Pere  Avril,  p.  128  ;  Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  48. 


504  MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED. 

FLAG  17.  The  city  of  Kazan  was  built  by  a  son  of  Batou,  in  the  year  1257. — 
Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  50. 

FLAG  18.  "  On  the  Volga,  below  the  mouth  of  the  Kama,  are  found  well  pre- 
served and  partly  magnificent  (Tartar)  remains  of  Bracktimof,  or  Bol- 
gar." — Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p.  48.  Bolgar  was  the  residence  of  Bereke, 
brother  and  successor  of  Batou  (P.  de  la  Croix,  p.  387).  He  received 
Marco  Polo's  father  and  uncle  with  great  distinction  and  magnificence. 
See  M.  Polo,  Ch.  I.  sec.  1,  who  calls  him  Barka.  He  was  engaged 
in  a  bloody  war  against  his  relation  Hulacou,  king  of  Persia. — P.  de 
la  Croix,  p.  387. 

FLAG  19.      Astrachan  was  the  seat  of  a  Tartar  sovereign. — Tooke,  Vol.  II.  p. 

50;  see  this  Vol  pp.  128.  289. 
FLAG  20.      The  Crimea  was  under  the  descendants  of  Genghis  above  five 

hundred  years. 

FLAG  21.  Maraga.  The  capital  of  Hulacou,  grandson  of  Genghis  and  king 
of  Persia,  who  founded  a  school  of  Astronomy  in  this  city:  (he  died 
in  the  year  1265).— Sir  R.  K.  Porter's  Travels,  Vol.  II.  p.  494. 

FLAG  22.  Cashgar.  Residence  of  Isan  Boga  Khan,  descended  from  Zagatai, 
at  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century. — Abul  Ghazi,  Vol.  I.  p.  167. 

FLAG  23.  Supposed  winter  position  of  the  sovereigns  of  Gete,  the  country  of 
Caidu,  who  rebelled  against  Kublai  and  Timur  Kaan.  Also  the  residence 
of  the  Turkish  Khans. — See  Sir  William  Jones's  Works,  Vol.  I. 
p.  63;  Abul  Ghazi  Bahadur,  Vol.  I.  p.  163;  Sherefeddin,  Life  of 
Timur,  Vol.1,  p.  330;  Tooke's  Russia,  Vol.11,  p.  37;  Marsden's 
Marco  Polo,  p.  263;'  Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  387;  Bell  of  Antermony, 
Ch.  II.;  and  this  Vol.  pp.  100,  101,  202. 

FLAG  24.  Semipalati,  (seven  palaces),  a  large  brick  building  of  seven  rooms,  in 
which  many  Mongol,  Calmuc,  and  Tangut  manuscripts  were  found, 
supposed  to  be  prayers  of  the  Lamas.  The  Tartars  told  Mr.  Bell  that 
it  was  built  by  Tamerlane  or  Genghis  Khan.  See  Abul  Ghazi,  Vol. 
II.  p.  525;    Strahlenberg,  p.  335;  this  Vol.  p.  217. 


MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED.  505 

When  we  entered  Cara  Cathay,  the  Emperor's  deputy,  who  lived  in  a  FLAG  25. 
house,  ordered  some  drink,  and  a  dance  by  his  two  sons.  Departing, 
we  found  a  small  sea  with  many  islands  in  it,  and  we  passed  leaving 
it  on  our  left  hand.  In  this  land  liveth  Ordu,  the  most  ancient  of  the 
Tartar  Dukes.  It  is  the  court  of  his  father  which  he  inhabiteth. — 
Du  Piano  Carpini  Hakluyt,  Vol.  I.  p.  66,  &c.  Cara  Cathay,  in  De  la 
Croix's  map  to  the  life  of  Genghis,  reaches  to  latitude  55°  north.  See 
this  Vol.  p.  210. 

Changanor,  or  White  Lake,  a  hunting  palace  of  the  Grand  Khan  FLAG  26. 
Kublai.    Marco  Polo,  p.  248.    This  Vol.  p.  79. 

"  On  our  journey  from  Batou  to  Mangu  Khan,  we  travelled  east;  FLAG  27. 
we  had  gowns  made  all  of  sheep-skins,  with  the  wool  upon  them,  and 
breeches  of  the  same.  Our  guide  directed  us  on  our  way  by  the 
courts  of  rich  Mongols.  Genghis' s  grandsons  are  daily  multiplied  and 
dispersed  over  this  huge  and  vast  desert,  which  is  in  dimensions  like 
the  ocean.  We  were  at  many  of  their  habitations;  they  marvelled 
exceedingly  that  we  would  not  receive  either  gold  or  silver,  or  pre- 
cious and  costly  garments,  at  their  hands.  (This  place  is  probably  on 
Rubruquis'  route,  there  can  be  no  certainty,  no  names  being  given). 
We  altered  our  course  from  east  to  south,  and  went  by  certain  moun- 
tains for  eight  days.  In  the  desert  we  saw  many  asses  or  mules,  which 
we  chased,  but  they  were  too  swift  for  us.  On  the  seventh  day  very 
high  mountains  appeared  to  the  south  of  us.  Having  passed  the  great 
mountains,  we  entered  a  beautiful  plain,  having  high  mountains  on 
our  right ;  and  on  our  left  a  tempestuous  sea  or  lake  (Baikal  ?),  fifteen 
days'  journey  in  circuit;  we  sailed  across  a  mighty  river  (Lena?),  and 
returned  by  the  north  side  of  the  Lake ;  and  there  were  great  moun- 
tains also  on  that  side.  Rubruquis,  p.  568  to  572  ;  and  Abul  Ghazi, 
Vol.  II.  p.  555,  where  the  Mongol  tombs  at  Krasnoyarsk  are  described. 

T  T  T 


506  MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED. 

See  also  Bell  of  Anterraony,  p.  209.  Strahlenberg,  pp.  325  to  407, 
respecting  the  tombs  at  Jenesai.  This  Vol.  p.  216. 
FLAG  28.  Caidu  (grandson  of  Genghis  and  nephew  of  Kublai)  and  his  armies 
at  all  times  remain  in  the  open  plains  and  vallies;  they  have  no  corn* 
but  subsist  on  flesh  and  milk ;  they  live  in  perfect  harmony  among 
themselves.  In  these  districts  are  found  white  bears  of  a  prodigious 
size,  black  foxes,  wild  asses,  and  zibelins.  They  travel  in  a  tragula. 
or  sledge  which  runs  easily  upon  ice;  it  contains  only  the  driver,  and 
one  merchant  with  his  package;  it  is  drawn  by  a  set  of  animals  which 
may  be  called  dogs,  very  strong,  and  inured  to  the  draught.  Marco 
Polo,  p.  737.  See  more  particulars  in  Chap.  V.  of  this  volume. 
FLAG  29.  Yunnan.  Viceroyalty  of  Timur  Kaan,  grandson  of  Kublai.  He 
routed  Kaidu  on  the  banks  -of  the  Irtish,  in  1289.  Timur  became 
Grand  Khan  in  1294.  During  his  whole  reign  there  was  scarcely  any 
war  but  that  with  Kaidu.  Marco  Polo,  B.  II.  Ch.  XXIX.  &  XLII. 
B.  III.  Ch.  XLIV.  and  note  830.    See  Chap.  V.  p.  200  of  this  Vol. 

Timur  died  in  1307,  aged  forty-two.  Du  Halde,  Vol.  I.  p.  215.  The 
Chinese  name  of  this  Emperor  was  Ching-tsong. 
FLAG  30.  Singan,  capital  of  Shensi,  is  governed  by  Manga! u,  son  of  the  Grand 
Khan  Kublai,  and  uncle  of  Timur  Kaan.  It  is  a  country  of  great  com- 
merce, eminent  for  its  silk,  and  manufactures.  In  this  place  likewise 
they  prepare  every  article  necessary  for  the  equipment  of  an  army. 
In  a  plain,  about  five  miles  from  the  city,  stands  a  beautiful  palace, 
belonging  to  king  Mangalu,  embellished  with  many  fountains  and  ri- 
vulets, both  within,  and  on  the  outside  of  the  buildings.  There  is  also 
a  fine  park,  surrounded  by  a  high  wall,  with  battlements,  enclosing  an 
extent  of  five  miles ;  where  all  kinds  of  wild  animals,  both  beasts  and 
birds,  are  kept  for  sport.  In  its  centre  is  this  spacious  palace,  which 
for  symmetry  and  beauty  cannot  be  surpassed.  It  contains  many  halls 
and  chambers,  ornamented  with  paintings  in  gold  and  the  finest  azure, 


MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED.  507 

as  well  as  with  great  profusion  of  marble.  Mangalu,  pursuing  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father,  governs  his  principality  with  equity,  and  is  beloved 
by  his  people.  He  also  takes  much  delight  in  hunting  and  hawking. 
Mangalu  was  viceroy  of  Shensi,  Sechuen  and  Tibet.  Hananta,  his  el- 
dest son,  succeeded  his  father  in  the  same  government,  and  also  resided 
at  Singan. — Marco  Polo,  p.  403.  and  Note  777.  Singan  was  a  famous 
city,  B.  C.  1100;  see  this  Vol.  p.  86. 

See  in  Chapter  V.  p.  214,  a  description  of  the  great  riches  in  gold,  FLAG  31. 
&c.  dug  up  in  the  numerous  Mongol  tombs  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Tomsk. — Elephants'  bones  are  sometimes  found  in  these  tombs.  (Bell  of 
Antermony,  p.  209);  and  casts  of  the  hippopotamus,  (Rees's  Cyc. 
"  Hip.") ;  and  urns,  with  representations  of  hawking.  A  whole  elephant 
was  found  in  a  tomb  in  Siberia,  but  it  is  not  said  precisely  where. 
Coxe's  Travels,  Vol.  III.  p.  170. 

Near  Azof,  Tamerlane  received  a  deputation  from  the  consuls  and  pi^G 
merchants  of  Egypt,  Venice,  Genoa,  Catalonia,  and  Biscay,  who  occu- 
pied that  city.    He  refused  their  offers,  plundered  Azof,  and  reduced 
it  to  ashes. — See  Sherefeddin,  Vol.  I.  p.  502.    Gibbon,  Chapter  LXV. 
p.  339. 

"  Yang-chu-fu  (or  Chin-gui)  is  the  place  of  residence  of  one  of  the  FLAG  33. 
twelve  nobles  appointed  by  the  Grand  Khan  to  the  government  of  the 
Chinese  provinces ;  and,  in  the  room  of  one  of  these,  Marco  Polo,  by 
special  order  of  his  majesty,  acted  as  governor  of  this  city  during  the 
space  of  three  years." — Marco  Polo,  p.  485,  and  note  955. 

Para  Hotun,  on  the  river  Rerlon,  was  built  by  the  Mongols  under  YLAG  34 
Mangu  and  Kublai,  it  was  two  leagues  in  circumference.    The  foun- 
dations, part  of  the  wall,  and  two  pyramids,  are  now  in  ruins :  there 
are  ruins  of  their  cities  in  twenty  places. — Du  Halde's  description  of 
Tartary,  Vol.  II.  p.  251. 


508  MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED. 

FLAG  35.  Ancient  city  and  kingdom  of  Bangalla,  conquered  by  Kublai,  A.  D. 
1272.  See  Ch.  VII. 

FLAG  36.  Ghizni,  or  Gazna.  Residence  of  Octai,  who  succeeded  his  father 
Genghis,  as  Grand  Khan. 

FLAG  37.  In  the  year  of  the  Hegira,  642,  an  army  of  Mogul  Tartars  made  an 
incursion  into  Bengal,  by  the  way  of  Chitta  and  Tibet.  Musaood  IV. 
sent  Timur  to  the  aid  of  Tiggi,  governor  of  that  province,  with  a 
great  army;  and  the  Moguls  received  a  total  defeat. — Dow's  Hindoos- 
tan,  Vol.  I.  p.  179.  Ferishta,  says  Rennell  (Memoir,  p.  xlix.)  in  allu- 
sion to  the  above,  describes  an  irruption  of  Moguls  into  Bengal,  by  way 
of  Chitta  and  Thibet,  in  1244.  (This  is  the  year  answering  to  642  of  the 
Hegira,  and  not  1242,  as  appears  in  this  Vol.  p.  82). 

Chitta  has  not  been  found  in  Rennell's  or  any  other  map;  but 
there  is  every  probability  of  Coos  Beyhar  being  the  place  meant. — See 
this  Vol.  p.  82.  In  Marco  Polo,  p.  412,  it  is  related  that  Mangu 
Khan,  (he  was  the  brother  of  Kublai,  and  preceded  him  as  Grand 
Khan)  "  carried  his  arms  into  Thibet,  and  entirely  laid  waste  that 
country:  to  the  distance  of  twenty  days' journey  you  see  numberless 
towns  and  castles  in  a  state  of  ruin ;  and  wild  beasts,  especially  tigers, 
have  multiplied  to  such  a  degree,  that  there  is  great  danger  in  travel- 
ling ;" — with  many  more  particulars  respecting  Thibet. 

Here  is  another  confirmation  of  the  truth  and  accuracy  of  Marco 
Polo. 

FLAG  38.  When  Prince  Zagatai  was  come  into  the  country  of  Quirman,  with 
his  numerous  army,  A.D.  1222,  be  took,  by  degrees,  all  the  places  in 
that  country,  according  to  the  orders  he  had  received  from  his  father, 
Genghis  Khan;  who,  being  well  informed  of  the  unhealthfulness  of 
this  province,  had  charged  him  to  take  great  care  of  the  soldiers. 
The  capital  city  is  called  Quirman  (the  ancients  called  the  province 


MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED.  509 

Carmania).  From  hence  he  led  his  troops  into  Makran,  which  at  this 
time  made  a  part  of  Sinde :  he  took  the  city  of  Tiz,  in  latitude  26°,  and 
some  other  places,  which  he  destroyed ;  and  he  passed  the  winter  in 
Quelanger,  a  country  situate  on  the  borders  of  the  Indies.  (In  De 
l'lsle's  map  to  the  life  of  Genghis,  Quelanger  is  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Delta  of  the  Indus). 

As  Zagatai  designed  to  stay  a  long  time  in  this  place,  the  soldiers 
made  themselves  a  great  number  of  houses :  there  were  some  who 
even  got  very  fine  flocks  of  sheep ;  and  they  subsisted  with  greater 
ease,  because  the  prince  had  made  the  quarters  for  the  troops  of  so 
great  an  extent,  that  they  did  not  incommode  one  another.  Every  sol- 
dier had  his  slaves  who  served  him.  The  troops  employed  themselves  in 
cultivating  gardens,  and  began  to  solace  themselves,  as  if  they  had  been 
in  a  country  which  they  supposed  was  going  to  be  divided  amongst 
them ;  and  which  they  were  to  settle  in  for  the  rest  of  their  lives.  But 
being  in  a  region,  the  climate  of  which  was  very  different  from  that 
they  were  born  in;  when  the  customary  scorching  winds  began  to 
blow,  they,  almost  all  of  them,  fell  sick,  and  a  great  number  died.  The 
survivors  were  so  weak  and  languid,  that  if  the  sultan  had  had  an 
army  to  oppose  them,  he  would  have  totally  ruined  this  of  the 
Moguls. 

Zagatai  removed  his  troops  from  one  place  to  another,  to  recover 
their  strength;  and  as  the  slaves,  whom  they  had  taken  in  the  neigh- 
bouring places,  were  a  burthen  to  the  soldiers  who  were  charged  with 
the  care  of  them ;  he  ordered  that  the  greatest  part  of  them  should  be 
put  to  death :  and  in  one  day  those  miserable  beings  were  killed.  Af- 
ter this,  the  army  encamped  in  a  more  temperate  country,  and  the 
troops  recovered.  Zagatai  having  received  orders  to  repair  to  the 
Grand  Khan,  he  placed  garrisons  in  the  conquered  cities,  and  coun- 
tries ;  and  leaving  the  government  of  them  all  to  one  of  his  lieutenants, 


510  MAP  OF  ASIA  EXPLAINED. 

he  marched  northward;  one  part  of  his  army  going  along  the  borders 
of  India,  under  a  lieutenant-general ;  while  he,  with  the  rest,  took  the 
road  to  Balkh,  at  which  place  the  general  rendezvous  was  appointed. 
— Petis  de  la  Croix,  p.  336. 


REMARK. 


In  the  constructing  of  this  map,  the  writer  has  consulted  the  best 
authorities  known  to  him.  The  old  maps  to  the  lives  of  Genghis  and 
of  Tamerlane,  and  that  to  Abul  Ghazi,  prove  how  ignorant  Europe  was 
with  regard  to  Northern  Asia  a  century  ago.  There  is  even  now  a 
space  between  Hindoostan  and  Siberia,  and  from  Lake  Aral  to  the  sea 
of  Japan,  more  extensive  than  Europe,  which  is  scarcely  known  even 
by  name.  Those  places,  about  which  authors  vary  considerably,  have 
been  omitted,  rather  than  incur  the  risk  of  misleading  the  reader. 


FINIS. 


511 


LIST 

OF 

BOOKS  REFERRED  TO  IN  THIS  WORK. 


A  BU'L  GHAZI  BAHADUR,  Khan  of  Carisme,  descended  in  the  right  line  from 
Genghis  Khan. — Genealogical  History  of  the  Turks,  Moguls,  and  Tartars, 
2  vols.  8vo.  London,  1730.    Translated  from  the  French,  with  notes. 

Adanson. — Histoire  du  Senegal,  4to.  Paris,  1757. 

Ainsworth.— Latin  Dictionary,  4to.  edition  by  T.  Morell,  D.D.  1773. 

Avril,  Father,  a  Jesuit. — Travels  to  discover  a  new  way  by  land  to  China,  A.  D. 
1685,  18mo.  London,  1693. 

Ambassadors  of  the  Duke  of  Holstein. — Travels  to  Tartary,  &c.  by  Olearius  and 
Mandelslo,  fol.  2d  edit.  1669. 

Augustan  History,  &c. — By  Bernard,  2  vols.  8vo,  London,  1698.  This  history  is 
principally  by  Julius  Capitolinus,  ./Elius  Lampridius,  iElius  Spartianus, 
and  Flavius  Vopiscus.  When  the  quotations  are  in  those  names,  they  refer 
to  the  Augustan  History. 

Ayeen  Acbery ;  or,  Institutes  of  the  Emperor  Akbar,  2  vols.  8vo.  London,  1800. 

Bell,  John,  of  Antermony. — Travels  to  Pekin,  2  vols.  4to.  Glasgow,  1763. 

Bernard,  John,  A.M. — Lives  of  the  Roman  Emperors,  2  vols.  8vo.  London,  1698. 
When  quotations  are  from  Bernard,  they  refer  to  his  Augustan  History ;  to 
which  he  has  himself  added  a  few  lives. 

Bernier. — Account  of  the  Mogul  Empire,  Agra  and  Delhi,  18mo.  London,  1676. 

Buffon. — Sonini's  edit.  12mo.  Paris,  An.  VIII. 

Camden's  Britannia. — By  Gough,  3  vols.  fol.  1789. 

Capitolinus. — See  Augustan  History. 

Carpini  Du  Piano  in  Hakluyt,  vol.  I. 


512  LIST  OF  BOOKS  REFERRED  TO. 

Catrou  and  Rouille. — Roman  History,  6  vols.  fol.  London,  1728. 
Chenier,  M. — State  of  Morocco.  2  vols.  8vo.  London,  1788. 

Cherefeddin. — History  of  Timur  Bee,  or  Tamerlane;  from  the  French  of  Petis  de 
la  Croix,  2  vols.  8vo.  London,  1723.  Cherefeddin  was  a  native  of  Yezd, 
and  a  subject  of  Timur.  This  history  was  not  finished  till  nineteen  years 
after  Timur 's  death.  This  is  the  best  and  most  authentic  author ;  but  the 
reader  must  remember,  that  the  lion's  likeness  is  drawn  by  his  own  painter. 
(Every  nation  is  partial  to  its  own  hero).  On  the  other  hand,  justice  has 
not  been  done  to  Timur  by  the  Turks,  and  his  other  enemies. — See  Pur- 
chas,  vol.  1,  2d  edit.  p.  319.  The  life  of  Timur  by  Alhacen,  gives  an  ac- 
count of  an  invasion  of  China  by  Timur,  a  circumstance  not  hinted  at  by  any 
other  writer :  his  history  has  therefore  not  been  used. 

Cochrane,  Capt. — Pedestrian  Journey  through  Siberia,  &c.  first  edition. 

Coxe,  William.— Travels  in  Russia,  &c.  5th  edit.  1802. 

Cuvier,  Le  Baron. — Sur  les  Ossemens  Fossiles  des  Quadrupedes,  4to.  Paris,  5  vols. 

 Theory  of  the  Earth,  8vo.  translated  by  Professor  Jameson,  1813. 

De  la  Croix. — Vide  Petis. 

D'Herbelot. — Bibliotheque  Orientale,  4  vols.  4to.  Hague,  1779. 

De  Guines.— Histoire  des  Huns,  Mogols,  &c.  (bound  in  5  vols.  4to.)  Paris,  1766. 

Dion  Cassius,  abridged  by  Xiphilin.— Manning's  translation,  2  vols.  8vo.  1704. 

Dow. — History  of  Hindoostan,  3  vols.  4to.  1770. 

Drake,  Francis. — History  and  Antiquities  of  York,  fol.  1736. 

Du  Halde.— Empire  of  China,  &c.  2  vols.  fol.  in  English,  1738. 

Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  3d  edition. 

Genghis  Khan,  Life  of. — See  Petis  de  la  Croix. 

Gibbon. — Roman  Empire,  6  vols.  4to.  1 788. 

Grew,  Nehemiah. — Museum  Regis  Societatis,  fol.  1681. 

Grosier,  Abbe.— General  Description  of  China,  2  vols.  8vo.  London,  1788. 

Hakewill,  Bishop  of  Worcester. — His  Apology ;  or,  Declaration  of  the  Power  and 

Providence  of  God  in  the  Government  of  the  World,  fol.  Oxford,  1635. 
Hakluyt.— Voyages,  3  vols,  in  2,  fol.  1598,  and  1600. 
Hamilton,  Walter. — East  India  Gazetteer,  8vo.  1815. 
Harris,  John,  D.D.  F.  R.  S.— Voyages  and  Travels,  2  vols.  fol.  1764. 


LIST  OF  BOOKS  REFERRED  TO.  613 

Haym,  Nicola  Francesco. — Del  Tesoro  Britannico,  2  vols.  4to.  Londra,  1719. 

Henry. — History  of  England,  4th  edit.  1805,  8vo. 

Herodotus. — Beloe's  Translation,  2  vols.  8vo.  1819. 

Horsley. — Britannia  Romana,  fol.  first  edit. 

Hutchins. — Antiquities  of  Dorsetshire,  4  vols.  fol.  1803. 

Ides  Isbrandts ;   (or  Isbrants). — Journey  through  Siberia,  in  Le  Bruyn,  and  in 

Harris's  Voyages. 
Jones,  Sir  William, — Works,  8  vols.  4to.  1799. 

Institutes  of  Timour,  or  Tamerlane. — By  Major  Davy,  and  Joseph  White,  B.  D. 
4to.  Oxford,  1783.  This  is  a  volume  of  maxims  or  institutes,  political  and 
military.  For  the  authenticity  of  this  book,  consult  the  translator's  preface, 
and  Sir  William  Jones's  fifth  discourse,  in  vol.  I. 

Kennett. — Antiquities  of  Rome,  8vo.  16th  edit.  1785. 

Lampridius. — See  Augustan  History. 

Le  Blanc,  Vincent. — Travels  in  India,  &c.  small  fol.  London,  1660. 
Le  Bruyn. — Travels  in  the  Levant,  fol.  London,  1702. 

 -  Travels  in  the  East  Indies,  &c.  2  vols.  fol.  1737. 

Lempriere. — Bibliotheca  Classica,  4th  edit.  1801. 

Lesseps,  M.  De. — Journal  Historique  du  Voyage  de,  2  vols.  8vo.  Paris,  1790. 
Levesque. — Histoire  de  Russie,  8  vols.  8vo.  Hambourg,  1800. 
Mandelslo,  John  Albert  de — Vide  Ambassadors'  Travels. 

Maundevile,  Sir  John,  Knt. — Voyage  and  Travaile  of,  in  the  year  1322,  from  the 
original  MS.  in  the  Cotton  library,  8vo.  London,  1727.  Maundevile  was  a 
man  of  learning  and  substance.  Having  inserted  in  his  book  descriptions 
of  monsters  which  he  had  read  of  in  Pliny,  miracles  out  of  legends,  and  other 
strange  stories,  his  whole  narration  has  been  rejected  by  some  compilers. 
His  travels,  by  his  own  observations,  reached  from  62°  10'  north,  to  33°  16' 

south.    He  was  in  Persia,  Tartary,  China,  India,  Lybia,  ./Ethiopia,  &c.  

He  and  his  fellow  travellers  were  soldiers  under  the  Grand  Khan  of  Cathay 
fifteen  months.  Where  he  can  be  compared  with  other  travellers  about  that 
time,  such  as  Marco  Polo,  the  difference  is  not  such  as  to  invalidate  his  tes- 
timony of  what  he  himself  saw  or  heard  while  at  the  places  he  visited ;  and 
the  writer  has  not  used  his  authority  on  any  other  occasion :  nor  does  Maun- 
devile copy,  but  he  rather  elucidates  Polo's  history,  as  will  be  shown.  He 
V  V  u 


5 14  LIST  OF  BOOKS  REFERRED  TO. 

was  absent  thirty-four  years;  and,  on  his  return,  he  regretted  that  "virtue 
is  gone,  the  church  is  under  foote,  the  clergy  is  in  errour,  the  devillreigneth, 
and  simonie  beareth  the  sway."  This  was  in  the  year  of  the  battle  of  Poic- 
tiers!  Sir  John  Maundevile  reasons  on  his  observations  of  the  "  Sterre 
Antartyk,"  &c.  and,  therefrom,  concludes  that  the  earth  is  a  globe,  and 
that  a  ship  might  sail  underneath  without  any  fear  of  falling  "  toward  the 
Heven,  as  semethe  to  symple  men  unlerned."  It  is  not  probable  that  his  ob- 
servation of  83°  16'  south,  was  correct.  He  died  at  Leige,  Nov.  17,  1371, 
and  was  buried  there,  with  an  inscription  upon  his  tomb,  in  the  French  of 
that  time:  "  Vos  ki  paseis  sor  mi,  pour  l'amour  Deix,  proies  por  mi." 

Milton,  John.— Historical  Works,  2  vols.  fol.  1738. 

 History  of  Britain,  1  vol.  8vo.  1695. 

Modern  Universal  History,  16 vols.  fol.  1759  to  1765. 

Montesquieu,  De. — Oeuvres,  7  vols.  12mo.  Amsterdam,  1781. 

Ogilby,  Cosmographer  to  Charles  II. — Description  of  Asia,  fol.  1673. 

Olearius. — See  Ambassadors'  Travels. 

Pallas. — Voyage  dans  FAsie  Septentrionale,  8  torn.  Paris,  L'an.  II.    Traduit  de 

l'Allemand,  par  le  C.  Gauthier  de  Ja  Peyronie. 
Parkinson. — Organic  Remains,  3  vols.  4to.  1811. 

Pegge,  Samuel,  A.  M. — Essay  on  the  Coins  of  Cunobelin,  London,  4to.  1766. 
Pennant.— Tour  in  Wales,  2  vols.  4to.  1722.  . 

Petis  de  la  Croix. — History  of  Genghis  Khan.    English  edit.  1722,  1  vol.  Svo.  the 
labour  of  ten  years. 

Polo,  Marco.— Travels  of,  4to.  translated  by  William  Marsden,  F.R  S.  &c.  1818. 

 Justice  is,  at  length,  done  to  the  Columbus  of  the  East.    The  more  this 

author  is  known,  the  higher  his  reputation  rises.  In  addition  to  the  eluci- 
dations and  confirmations  of  the  veracity  of  Marco  Polo,  which  appear  in 
this  excellent  edition  of  his  travels,  (to  which  the  writer  acknowledges  great 
obligations),  four  or  five  further  discoveries  of  his  correctness  will  be  found 
in  these  Researches.  Marco  Polo  was  many  years  in  the  service  of  the 
Grand  Khan  Kublai :  he  was  three  years  governor  of  the  city  of  Yan-gui. 
(M.  Polo,  485).  He  returned  to  Venice  in  the  year  1295,  immensely  rich. 
It  was  from  reading  Marco  Polo's  description  of  the  great  distance  to  which 
Japan  reached  eastward,  that  Columbus  felt  persuaded  those  countries 


LIST  OF  BOOKS  REFERRED  TO.  515 

might  be  arrived  at  by  a  shorter  voyage,  by  sailing  to  the  west;  and,  on  his 
first  discoveries,  he  imagined  the  American  islands  to  be  a  part  of  the  East 
Indies.  We  therefore  perhaps  owe  the  discovery  of  America  to  this  cele- 
brated traveller. «_  See  Robertson's  Ancient  India,  note  XLVI. 
Purchas. — His  Pilgrimage,  5  vols.  fol.  second  edit.  When  B.  is  added,  it  means 
third  edition. 

Rennell,  James,  F.R.S. — Memoirs  of  Hindoostan,  4to.  1788. 

Robertson,  William,  D.D. — Disquisition  on  Ancient  India,  4to.  1791. 

Rubruquis,  William  De. — Travels  in  Tartary,  &c.  Harris's  Voyages,Vol.  I.  p.  556. 

Sherefeddin. — See  Cherefeddin. 

Spartian. — See  Augustan  History. 

Stow.— Survey  of  London,  2  vols.  fol.  1720. 

Strahlenberg,  P.  I.  Von. — Description  of  Siberia,  &c.  4to.  London,  1738,  trans- 
lated from  the  high  German.  Strahlenberg  was  a  Swedish  officer,  in  the 
service  of  Charles  XII.  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  Pultava,  and  resided  thir- 
teen years  in  Siberia.  He  was  a  man  of  science  ;  and  the  Czar  Peter  hav- 
ing procured  a  sight  of  his  map,  (the  first  good  one),  endeavoured  to  induce 
him  to  enter  into  his  service ;  but  he  returned  to  his  own  country. 

Stukeley,  Dr.  William. — Itinerarium  Curiosum,  2  vols.  fol.  2d  edit.  1776. 

—  Medallic  History  of  the  British  Emperor  Carausius,  4to. 

Tacitus. — Gordon's  translation,  2  vols.  8vo.  1817. 

Tavernier. — Voyages,  in  English,  fol.  1677. 

Timur. — See  Institutes ;  and  Cherefeddin. 

Tooke,  William,  F.R.S. — View  of  the  Russian  Empire,  3  vols.  8vo.  1799. 
Vopiscus. — See  Augustan  History. 

Xenophon. — Expedition  of  Cyrus,  by  E.  Spelman,  Esq.  8vo.  1813. 
 Cyropaedia,  or  Institution  of  Cyrus ;  translated  by  the  Honorable  Mau- 
rice Ashley,  8vo.  1816. 
Zosimus,  Count,  Chancellor  of  the  Roman  Empire. — English  transl.  8vo.  1814. 


516 


ERRATA. 


Page.  Line. 

16       10   for  Sercbrenkaia  read  Serebrenkaia 

61        18    after  relief  for  ;  read  ) 

67         3    dele  south, 

99       16  for  guilded.  read  gilded. 
120         3   for  reminded  read  and  reminded 
152       18   for  composed  read  was  composed 

169  2    after  Emperor  add  : 
8    dele  Calil's  read  the 

1 70  Note  *  for  grandsons'  read  grandsons 
Chap.  VI.  for  a  ou  read  a  ou 

229  5   for  now  here  read  nowhere 

230  Note  f  line  3  for  Ch.  XV.  read  end  of  this  Ch. 
240  last  line,  after  found  add  ; 

244         5   /or  Ticuman  read  Tieuman 

251  12    for  per  read  par 

252  14   for  out  read  ont 

302        12   /or  and  fifty-four  elephants,  read  fifty-four  elephants 
325       11   for  commanded  read  command 
355       12    from  bottom,  for  2  A,  read  12  A. 

359  12  to  thervord  Avon,  add  this  note-*  The  name  in  Tacitus  is  Antona.  Murphy 
and  Gordon  translate  it  Nen.  Camden  thinks  that  the  true  reading  is 
Nen.    Rapin  translates  it  Avon.    See  Ainsworth,  Aufona  and  Antona. 

385  Medal  23,  In  the  Zodiac,  the  sign  Libra  is  where  that  of  Virgo  should  be.  It  is  faith- 
fully copied  from  Haym. 

391  Margin,  dele  A.  D.  192. 

409       22    after  that  read  the 

464     Title,  for  to  read  from 

505         6   for  Carpini  read  Carpini,  in 

507       20   for  Chin-gui  read  Yan-gui 


LONDON: 

W.  M'DOWALL,  PRINTER,  PEMBERTON-ROW,  GOUGH-SQUARE. 


'0: